Record-breaking year in nuclear electricity generation
The World Nuclear Performance Report shows nuclear reactors supplied more electricity than ever before in 2024.
The global reactor fleet ran at an average capacity factor of 83% in 2024, higher than any other source of electricity.
The report also states that over the past 20 years reactor performance remained high regardless of age, with older reactors having some of the highest capacity factors.
It attributed the increase in recent years to a rapid increase in capacity in Asia.
According to the report, of the 68 reactors commissioned worldwide over the past decade, 56 were built in Asian countries.
This trend looks set to continue, with 59 of the 70 reactors currently under construction also located in the region.
Key highlights from the report are:
- Nuclear reactors worldwide generated 2,667TWh of electricity in 2024. This is stated to be the largest amount of electricity supplied in one year from nuclear energy, surpassing the previous record of 2,660 TWh in 2006.
- In 2024, nuclear reactors helped avoid 2.1 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions from equivalent coal generation.
- In 2024, the global average capacity factor was 83%, up from 82% in 2023. Over 60% of reactors are achieving a capacity factor of more than 80.
- Seven reactors completed construction and were connected to the grid in 2024. Three of these were in China, with the remaining four in the United Arab Emirates, France, India, and the United States.
- There are currently 70 reactors under construction worldwide, with construction on nine reactors starting in 2024, six in China and one each in Pakistan, Egypt and Russia.
The report notes rising electricity demand continues to outpace ‘clean energy growth’.
The full report is available online.
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