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Global nuclear power generation increases for the fifth consecutive year
Global nuclear power generation increased for the fifth consecutive year in 2017 to reach 2,500 TWh – an increase of around 30 TWh on 2016 – according to a new report from the World Nuclear Association (WNA). Although the total is still 150 TWh short of the peak figure recorded in 2006.
Last year saw nuclear power reactor availability improve to achieve a mean average capacity factor of 81%, according to the organisation’s World Nuclear Performance Report. At the end of 2017, the global capacity of the 448 operable reactors worldwide stood at 392 GW, up 2 GW on the end of 2016, even while five reactors with a combined capacity of 3 GW were shut down over the year.
Nuclear construction times also gathered pace last year, with the median average construction time for new reactors down to 58 months from 74 months in 2016, and at less than half the average time taken between 1996–2000, says WNA.
Faring less well in 2017, however, was progress on plant construction. Four reactors started supplying electricity in 2017, down from the ten that were added in each of the two preceding years. But this is set to pick up, with more than 25 new reactors scheduled to come online between 2018–2019, according to WNA.
The report also features five case studies highlighting leading examples of nuclear reactor construction and operational performance around the world. This includes Dresden 3 in the US, one of the world’s oldest operating reactors, which achieved a 100% high availability factor in 2017; the restart of two reactors in Japan and the construction and operation of three new reactor models in Russia, South Korea and China.
Agneta Rising, Director General of WNA said: ‘There is no sustainable energy future without nuclear energy. We will need all low carbon energy sources to work together. Nuclear capacity must expand to achieve the industry’s “Harmony” goal to enable nuclear energy to supply 25% of the world’s electricity demand by 2050.’
In related news, the recent heatwave across the northern hemisphere seen this year could affect generation statistics, leading to the shutdown of nuclear plants across Europe amid fears that the hot weather will ‘increase the risk of reactors getting dangerously hot or harming wildlife’, reported The Times.
This has included the closure of a reactor at Ringhals in Sweden after sea water used for cooling purposes reached 25°C – the maximum temperature allowed under safety rules.
