A Shift in Nuclear Powers [Infographic]
The past and future of the world's nuclear reactors.
Nuclear energy provides 11 percent of the world’s electricity, but most reactors are now decades old. Many are approaching—or have surpassed—their initial 30- to 40-year lifespans (though upgrades can extend their lives to 60 years). Early nuclear adopters like France and Germany are curtailing their programs, even though analysts—including the authors of a recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change—say nuclear is necessary to keep worldwide carbon emissions in check. Emerging economies may take up the mantle: Planned reactors in China and Russia could keep the world’s inventory stable.
Since late 2012, the U.S. has announced the retirement of five reactors, and several planned units are currently on hold.
China is one of the only nations investing heavily in nuclear power—28 of its 49 reactors are under construction, and 35 more have been planned. It still has a long way to go: Nuclear accounted for only two percent of the country’s electricity in 2012.
Just before the Fukushima disaster in 2011, nuclear power provided about 29 percent of Japan‘s electricity. As of late 2013, all of its reactors were shut off and producing no power—though many were still technically operational. Japanese utilities are importing natural gas and oil to satisfy electricity demand.
In June, the French prime minister introduced a bill that would cap nuclear at its current capacity.
Russia has aggressively pursued nuclear power, following a post-Chernobyl hiatus that lasted more than a decade.
This article originally appeared in the September 2014 issue of Popular Science.