- Nuclear power generation increased by 2% globally in 2023, with China leading in capacity expansion and the U.S. remaining the top producer.
- Europe saw a decline in nuclear output, with Germany shutting down its last reactors, while Japan’s output rose by nearly 50% post-Fukushima.
- Regional shifts highlight Asia’s rapid growth in nuclear energy, contrasting with Europe’s phase-out policies and the U.S.’s steady production levels.
In June, the Energy Institute released the 2024 Statistical Review of World Energy. The Review provides a comprehensive picture of supply and demand for major energy sources on a country-level basis. Each year, I write a series of articles covering the Review’s findings.
In previous articles, I discussed:
- Overall highlights
- Trends in global carbon dioxide emissions
- Global production and consumption of petroleum
- Global production and consumption of natural gas
- Global production and consumption of coal
Today I will discuss trends in nuclear power.
Overview
In 2023, nuclear power generation increased by 2% despite a slight decrease in total installed capacity. However, it remained 58 terawatt-hours below the pre-COVID levels of 2019 and 2% lower than the peak output recorded in 2006.
In Europe, nuclear output dropped by 1%, as France’s nuclear fleet recovery from the extended outages in 2022 was counterbalanced by Germany shutting down its last three remaining reactors early in the year.
China continues to dominate in expanding nuclear capacity, accounting for around 60% of all new additions since 2000. Notably, China commenced commercial operations of its onshore small modular reactor (SMR) demonstration project in late 2023, marking a world-first with Generation IV technology and advanced safety systems.
In Japan, nuclear output rose by nearly 50% in 2023 as the country gradually brought reactors back online following the 2011 Fukushima incident. Meanwhile, nuclear output in the U.S. remained steady, yet still matched the combined outputs of China and France, which have the second and third-largest nuclear fleets, respectively.
The Top Producers
“Change” reflects the percentage change from 2023.
The Top 10 list is that same as in 2022, except Japan and Ukraine swapped places. The U.S. remains the global leader in nuclear power production, but China’s 10-year growth rate is 14.6%, versus -0.2% in the U.S.
China and Japan are the only countries in the Top 10 with a double-digit growth rate over the past decade. Pakistan, globally ranked at #18 among nuclear producers, also had a 10-year double-digit growth rate, as does the overall Middle East.
Historical and Regional Context
From a modest 25.5 terawatt-hours in 1965, worldwide nuclear power production surged to 2737.7 terawatt-hours by 2023. Early leaders in adoption included the United States, United Kingdom, and France, with the U.S. maintaining its position as the largest producer, generating 816.2 terawatt-hours in 2023, nearly 30% of the global total.
France experienced a dramatic increase in nuclear power production during the late 1970s and 1980s, becoming the second-largest producer globally. China’s nuclear program has seen explosive growth since the early 2000s, rising from zero to become the third-largest producer by 2023.
Japan’s nuclear power generation grew steadily until the 2011 Fukushima disaster caused a sharp decline, though it has partially recovered since. In contrast, Germany has been steadily reducing its nuclear power generation as part of a phase-out policy.
The data also reflects geopolitical changes, showing the transition from the USSR to individual countries, with Russia emerging as a major producer. Recent years have seen new entrants to nuclear power, including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, and Belarus.
Regional differences are apparent, with North America and Europe as early adopters, while Asia has seen the most growth in recent years. Many developing countries, particularly in Africa and South America, have not adopted nuclear power, with South Africa being a notable exception.
These trends illustrate how the landscape of nuclear power generation was influenced by technological developments, policy decisions, and major events like the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.
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