Nuclear energy is a controversial topic. Some people say it’s the way of the future, while others claim it’s too dangerous to mess with. But there’s no denying that nuclear power is a major player in the world’s energy mix. As of 2022, there are 441 operational nuclear reactors in 30 countries around the world. These reactors produce 10% of the world’s electricity and prevent the emission of nearly 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide each year. The following is a list of the top 10 countries with the most nuclear reactors as of 2022. In a world where nuclear power is controversial, there are still many countries that rely on it for energy. Here are the top 10 countries with the most nuclear reactors, according to the World Nuclear Association.
10. Japan
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors Japan Have in 2022: 10
In 2022, Japan plans to have at least four nuclear reactors operational. This would require the country to import uranium fuel, as it does not currently have any domestic sources of the element. The first reactor is scheduled to come online in 2020, with the other three following suit in 2021 and 2022.
Currently, Japan has a total of 54 nuclear reactors, but only two of them are operational. The remaining 52 reactors are either shut down or in the process of being decommissioned.
9. United Kingdom
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors United Kingdom Have in 2022: 11
The United Kingdom plans to have 14 new nuclear reactors operational by the end of 2035. The reactors will be located at sites across the country, including Hinkley Point C in Somerset and Sizewell C in Suffolk.
The UK government has placed a strong emphasis on developing the country’s nuclear power infrastructure in recent years. In 2010, the government committed to investing £60 billion (US$78 billion) in new nuclear projects. This investment is expected to create up to 30,000 jobs.
The UK’s first new nuclear reactor in over two decades, Hinkley Point C, is currently under construction and is scheduled to be operational by 2026. The plant will generate enough electricity to power six million homes.
Sizewell C, which is also currently under construction, is expected to be operational by 2030. The plant will generate enough electricity to power seven million homes.
In addition to these two plants, there are 12 other proposed nuclear projects across the UK that are at various stages of development. If all of these projects are completed, the UK will have a total of 26 new nuclear reactors operational by 2035.
8. Ukraine
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors Ukraine Have in 2022: 15
In 2022, Ukraine will have 15 operational nuclear reactors providing 10% of the country’s electricity. These reactors are located at four sites across the country: Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, South Ukrainian and Zaporizhzhia. The first two units at the Khmelnytskyi site are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2027 and 2028 respectively, while the last unit at the Rivne site is scheduled for decommissioning in 2030. All other reactors are planned to operate until at least 2035.
In total, there are nine VVER-1000 reactors (three at Khmelnytskyi, three at Rivne and three at South Ukrainian), four VVER-1200 reactors (one each at Khmelnytskyi, Rivne, South Ukrainian and Zaporizhzhia) and two RBMK-1500 reactors (at Zaporizhzhia). All of these reactors are Russian-designed and were built in the Soviet era.
Following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, Ukraine committed to closing all of its RBMK-type reactors by 2000. However, this deadline was not met and three RBMKs remain in operation today. Two of these – at Zaporizhzhia – are due to close in 2023 and 2025 respectively, while the third – at Rivne – is scheduled for decommissioning in 2030.
7. Canada
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors Canada Have in 2022: 17
In 2022, Canada is expected to have 19 operational nuclear reactors, compared to the 18 it had in 2020. These reactors are located at eight sites across the country and provide about 15% of Canada’s electricity.
Nuclear power has been an important part of Canada’s electricity mix for over 50 years. It is a clean, reliable and affordable source of energy that helps to keep our economy strong.
Over the past few years, we have seen a renewed interest in nuclear power around the world as countries look for ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and improve their energy security.
Canada is well-positioned to be a leader in this field. We have a highly skilled workforce, advanced technology and a long history of successful operation of nuclear facilities.
The government of Canada is committed to supporting the development of nuclear power as part of our clean energy future. We are working with industry and other partners to develop innovative technologies that will make nuclear power even cleaner and more efficient.
We are also investing in research and development so that we can continue to be at the forefront of nuclear technology. This includes developing small modular reactors that could be used in remote communities or for other specialized applications.
6. India
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors India Have in 2022: 19
As of 2022, India has 19 nuclear reactors in operation, with 9 more under construction. These reactors are spread across seven sites, with the majority (16) located in the state of Maharashtra. The Kakrapar Atomic Power Station is the largest in the country, with eight reactors.
The Indian government has been investing heavily in nuclear power in recent years, with the goal of increasing its share of electricity generation to 25% by 2050. In order to achieve this target, an additional 63 reactors will need to be built by 2032.
The construction of new nuclear power plants is not without controversy, however. There have been a number of protests against proposed sites, most notably the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant which has faced significant opposition from local residents and environmental groups.
Despite these challenges, the Indian government remains committed to expanding its nuclear power capacity and is likely to continue to do so in the years ahead.
5. South Korea
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors South Korea Have in 2022: 24
As of May 2022, South Korea has 24 operational nuclear reactors with a capacity of 23.6 GW and six reactors under construction with a capacity of 6.3 GW. These projects are expected to be completed by 2024.
In terms of development, South Korea plans to increase its nuclear power generation capacity to 27.3 GW by 2025 and to 43 GW by 2035. These ambitious goals are in line with the country’s strategy to phase out coal-fired power plants and increase its reliance on renewable energy sources.
To achieve these targets, South Korea is investing heavily in research and development for next-generation nuclear reactor technologies. In particular, the country is working on developing small modular reactors (SMRs) that can be used for power generation, district heating, and seawater desalination.
South Korea’s first SMR is expected to be operational by 2029, and the country plans to have at least four SMRs in operation by 2035. Beyond that, South Korea is also working on developing advanced nuclear reactor technologies such as thorium-fueled reactors and high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs).
4. Russia
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors Russia Have in 2022: 37
In 2022, Russia will have the most nuclear reactors in the world. The country has been a leading producer of nuclear power since the 1950s, and currently has 37 reactors in operation.
Russia’s state-owned Rosatom is the world’s largest nuclear power company and is responsible for operating all of the country’s nuclear reactors. In recent years, Rosatom has been aggressively expanding its international operations and is currently building nuclear power plants in several countries, including China, India, and Turkey.
In addition to its domestic nuclear fleet, Russia also operates a number of research reactors and plutonium production facilities. These include the BN-800 fast neutron reactor, which is used for producing weapons-grade plutonium.
As of 2016, Russia had around 16% of the world’s total installed nuclear capacity. This is expected to increase to around 19% by 2025 as new reactors come online and existing ones are upgraded.
3. China
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors China Have in 2022: 55
In China, the development of nuclear reactors is an important part of the country’s energy strategy. In 2022, China plans to have 30 nuclear reactors in operation, with a total capacity of 30 gigawatts (GW). This would make China the world’s third-largest nuclear power, behind the United States and France.
China’s nuclear power industry is growing rapidly. The country has 16 reactors in operation, with another 26 under construction. Most of these are located in coastal provinces, where they can take advantage of the country’s vast coastline for cooling waters.
In recent years, China has made great strides in developing its own nuclear technology. The country now has two domestically designed and built nuclear reactors: the CPR-1000 and the Hualong One. These reactors are based on modern designs and incorporate many safety features.
China is also working on advanced reactor designs that would be even more efficient and safe. The goal is to have a fleet of safe, reliable, and affordable nuclear power plants that can provide a significant portion of the country’s electricity needs.
2. France
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors France Have in 2022: 56
In 2022, France is expected to have 58 operational nuclear reactors, which is an increase of two from the current year. The country has been a leading player in the development of nuclear power and currently has the second-largest installed nuclear capacity in the world. France gets about 75% of its electricity from nuclear power, and the share is expected to increase in the coming years.
With 58 reactors in operation, France is expected to generate about 480 TWh of electricity from nuclear power in 2022. This would make it the world’s largest producer of nuclear-generated electricity, ahead of the United States (which is projected to have about 400 TWh) and China (which is projected to have about 320 TWh).
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1. United States
Total No. Of Nuclear Reactors USA Have in 2022: 92
As of May 2020, there are 96 nuclear reactors in operation in the United States. In terms of new development, construction is currently underway on four reactors. Two more are in the early stages of development. All six of these new reactors are scheduled to come online by the end of 2022.
In terms of capacity, the United States is second only to China in terms of installed nuclear capacity. As of 2019, American nuclear power plants had a total capacity of 102.4 gigawatts (GW). This is enough to power over 60 million homes.
American nuclear power plants provide about 20 percent of the country’s electricity needs. This is down from a high of 30 percent in the mid-1990s. The decrease is due to a combination of factors, including increased competition from natural gas and renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.
Despite this decline, nuclear power remains an important part of America’s energy mix. It provides a reliable source of carbon-free electricity that can help meet our future energy needs while also helping to address climate change.
