Peak Oil is You
Donate Bitcoins ;-) or Paypal :-)
Page added on December 10, 2011
World’s nuclear power generation capacity falls
Despite a record rise in global nuclear power capacity to 375.5GW in 2010, the past year has seen the figure drop back to 366.5GW as production costs have increased, power demand slowed and Fukushima remained in people’s minds, according to the Worldwatch Institute’s Vital Signs Online (VSO) report.
Much of the decline in capacity is attributed to halting reactor construction around the globe. Although 2010 saw the construction start of 16 new reactors, that number dropped to two this year as only India and Pakistan began building an additional nuclear reactor.
Moreover, the first 10 months of 2011 saw the shutdown of 13 reactors, reducing the number of operational units worldwide from 441 to 433.
“It’s too early to conclude that nuclear energy is beginning a long-term decline, but these numbers can hardly encourage the industry,” said Worldwatch President Robert Engelman. “The high cost of nuclear electricity generation and the widespread public perceptions that it poses unacceptable safety risks make it unlikely this form of power will help slow human-caused climate change or offer an attractive alternative to rising fossil-fuel prices any time soon.”
China proves the exception to the global nuclear power generation slump. It not only account for 10 of the 16 reactor construction starts in 2010, but also initiated the instalment of nearly 10GW of capacity or 62% of capacity construction. Home to 27 reactors, the country has around 27GW of capacity under construction.
4 Comments on "World’s nuclear power generation capacity falls"
Kenz300 on Sat, 10th Dec 2011 3:55 pm
Nuclear energy is too costly and too dangerous. The disaster at Fukishima continues with no end in sight. Chernobyl is looking to raise a billion dollars for a new containment structure 25 years after their event.
BillT on Sun, 11th Dec 2011 3:10 am
Nuclear was never a good idea. It was hyped by the corporations that would profit from it and they covered up the negatives that are now coming out. We are running out of high quality uranium ores anyway, and the ‘cold fusion’ dream will never happen. Reality is a bitch, but it is all we have.
sudhinder thakur on Mon, 12th Dec 2011 6:18 am
The cost of generation has not become high is the year. The uranium prices have dipped to 50$ from a 2010 high of 100$plus. The Fukushima was a disaster but a disaster in which no one was killed and no one in public domain exposed to radiation to unacceptable radiation.Nuclear power is here to stay and post accident it will stay stronger as the public sees the stress on safety in nuclear business, no fatalities resulting from nuclear reactors as compared to some 26000 deaths from tsunami, which will further enhance learning from the accident in Japan. accidents included the safety performance of nuclear continues to be much higher than other electricity generation technologies.
Kenz300 on Mon, 12th Dec 2011 3:40 pm
No nuclear power plant would ever be built without government limits on liability and loan guarantees. The liability for Chernobyl and Fukishima are too high for any business to take the risk. The disaster at Fukishima continues today with no end in sight. Had that been a solar plant or a wind farm all those evacuated people would be back in their homes and the sight would be back to producing electricity.