Press release
Paris, 19 May 1999

Français

Nuclear energy generation in OECD/NEA countries to continue growing through 2010 despite nuclear reactor retirements in several countries

Electricity produced from nuclear power stations in OECD/NEA member countries should continue to grow at 0.9 per cent per year from 2 019 Terawatt-hours (TWh) in 1998 to 2 236 TWh in 2010. However, the nuclear share of total electricity production, which stood at 23.8 per cent in 1998, is projected to decline to 21.6 per cent by 2010. Electricity demand should continue to grow at about 1.7 per cent annually beyond the year 2000.

The total capacity provided by the 345 reactors now installed is 292.4 Gigawatts (GWe). Eleven reactors (10.9 GWe) are reported under construction in the Republic of Korea, Japan, the Czech Republic and France. Another three (3.5 GWe) are reported as firmly committed. The total capacity of OECD/NEA nuclear power plants is projected to be about 294 GWe in the year 2000, and 312 GWe in 2010, account being taken of a deduction of 29.9 GWe to be taken out of service by 2010. Most of the retirements are expected in the United Kingdom and the United States.

This information is published in the annual survey of developments and projections of nuclear generation, installed capacities and associated fuel cycle services carried out by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The survey, Nuclear Energy Data, also known as the "Brown Book", is based on official statistics and projections to 2015 submitted by OECD/NEA countries.

Nuclear energy currently represents about 75 per cent of total electricity production in France, 55 per cent in Belgium, 46 per cent in Sweden, 42 per cent in the Republic of Korea, 40 per cent in Switzerland, 37 per cent in Hungary, 34 per cent in Japan, 33 per cent in Germany, 31 per cent in Finland, 31 per cent in Spain, 27 per cent in the United Kingdom, 20 per cent in the Czech Republic, 19 per cent in the United States, 12 per cent in Canada, 7 per cent in Mexico and 4 per cent in the Netherlands.


Nuclear Energy Data
OECD, Paris 1999 - ISBN 92-64-05856-7

Please quote title and reference in any review.


Media enquiries:

  • Write to:
  • Follow us: @OECD_NEA
Top