Nuclear Technology Review 2016  

With 441 reactors operating at the end of 2015, nuclear energy had a global generating capacity of 382.9 GW(e). Five reactors were permanently shutdown, ten were connected to the grid, the highest number since 1990, and eight were started to be constructed. Near and long term growth prospects remained centred in Asia, particularly in China. Of the 68 reactors under construction, 45 were in Asia, as were 39 of the 45 reactors that were connected to the grid since 2005.
Thirty countries currently use nuclear power and about the same number are considering, planning or actively working to include it in their energy mix. Of the 30 operating countries, 13 are either constructing new plants or actively completing previously suspended construction projects, and 12 are planning to either construct new plants or to complete suspended construction projects. The Agency’s 2015 projections for 2030 show that the nuclear capacity will grow about 2% in the low case and about 70% in the high case. The role nuclear power plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions is getting wider recognition. Having already made a sizeable contribution to climate change mitigation by avoiding nearly 2 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, nuclear power can directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.