2016-A Record Year for Nuclear Energy Production

ANS member and the Director of Energy at the Breakthrough Institute Jessica Lovering reported that in 2016, 9.5 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power capacity was added worldwide, making it the most productive year for nuclear power since 1990. With 10 reactors coming online, it was the largest two-year addition of nuclear power since 1989-90.

Additions to last year's global nuclear fleet included five in China, one in Pakistan, one in India, one in Russia, and the Watts Bar-2 reactor in Tennessee. The completion of Watts Bar-2 was the first U.S. reactor to come online since 1996.

The forecast for 2017 looks to be promising with 18 new reactors scheduled to be online.