NUCLEAR
BY THENUMBERSCapacity
Factor

93.4%

HIGHEST
GENERATION EVER

Electricity
Generation

19.7%

Carbon-Free
Electricity

54.8%

August 2020

© 2020 Nuclear Energy Institute Inc.

NUCLEARBY THENUMBERS© 2020 Nuclear Energy Institute Inc.
Nuclear By The Numbers all rights reserved.
No part of this report may be reproduced, transmitted or modified
without written permission of the Nuclear Energy Institute Inc.

CONTACT
Harsh Desai at hsd@nei.org
for additional information or previous versions of this document.

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
THE NUCLEAR ADVANTAGE
U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Today.......................................................................................................... 4
Nuclear Energy Creates and Sustains Jobs........................................................................................ 5
Nuclear Energy = Clean Air..................................................................................................................... 62019 U.S. Carbon-Free Electricity Fuel Shares.................................................................................. 72019 Carbon Emissions Avoided by the U.S. Power Industry......................................................... 8PERFORMANCE AND COST
U.S. Nuclear Electricity Generation....................................................................................................... 9
U.S. Nuclear Industrywide Capacity Factors....................................................................................... 102019 U.S. Electricity Generation Fuel Shares..................................................................................... 112019 Industry Average Total Generating Costs................................................................................. 12-13
U.S. Nuclear Industry Total Generating Cost Trends......................................................................... 14
U.S. Nuclear Industry Capital Cost Trends.......................................................................................... 15
U.S. Nuclear Industry Operations Cost Trends................................................................................... 16
U.S. Nuclear Industry Fuel Cost Trends............................................................................................... 17

STATUS AND OUTLOOKPrematurely Retired Nuclear Power Plants......................................................................................... 18
Nuclear Power Plants Announced for Premature Closure.............................................................. 19
Plants Saved From Premature Closure Due to State Actions......................................................... 20
Initial License Renewals.......................................................................................................................... 21
Second License Renewals...................................................................................................................... 22
Operating Reactors Around the World................................................................................................. 23
Operating Reactors, by Supplier Country............................................................................................ 24
Reactors Under Construction Around the World............................................................................... 25
Reactors Under Construction, by Supplier Country.......................................................................... 26
International Nuclear Influence.............................................................................................................. 27

THE NUCLEAR ADVANTAGE

U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Today• 94 reactors across 55 sites• 96,456 megawatts-electric of baseload capacity• 809.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity produced in 2019
• 93.4 percent capacity factor in 2019
• Two nuclear power plants, responsible for over 11.7 billion kilowatt-hoursof carbon-free electricity, prematurely retired in 2019

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: August 20204

THE NUCLEAR ADVANTAGE

Nuclear Energy Creates and Sustains Jobs

CONTRIBUTES$10 BILLION IN FEDERAL
AND $2.2 BILLION IN STATETAXES EACH YEARSUPPORTS

SAVES CONSUMERS

JOBS

		

AN AVERAGE OF

475,000

6%

ON ELECTRICITY BILLS

ADDS

$60

BILLIONGDP
TO THE COUNTRY’S

Source: The Nuclear Industry’s Contribution to the U.S. Economy, The Brattle Group, July 2015.

5

THE NUCLEAR ADVANTAGE

Nuclear Energy = Clean Air

506
MILLIONAVOIDSMETRIC TONSOFCO2EMISSIONSEACH YEARPREVENTSPREVENTS

265,260

238,084

SHORT TONSSHORT TONS
OF

NOX

OF

SO2

EMISSIONSEMISSIONSVALUED AT A
SOCIAL COSTOF

$ 26.9BILLION
ANNUALLY(in 2019 dollars)

Sources: Emissions avoided are calculated using regional and national fossil fuel emissions rates from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and latest plant generation data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The Nuclear Industry’s Contribution to the U.S. Economy, The Brattle Group, July 2015.
Updated: July 20206

THE NUCLEAR ADVANTAGE

2019 U.S. Carbon-Free Electricity Fuel Shares

Nuclear power is responsible for more carbon-free electricity than all othersources combined.

54.8%

20.3%

18.9%

Wind

Hydro

4.9%

1.1%

Solar

Geothermal

Nuclear

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: March 20207

THE NUCLEAR ADVANTAGE

2019 Carbon Emissions Avoided by the U.S. Power Industry
Million Metric Tons

Carbon emissions avoided by the U.S. nuclear industry in 2019 areequivalent to taking nearly 110 million cars off the road.

Nuclear

505.8
Wind

Hydro

196.8

183.0

Solar

Geothermal

47.4

10.5

Source: Emissions avoided are calculated using regional and national fossil
fuel emissions rates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and latest
plant generation data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: July 2020

8PERFORMANCE AND COST

U.S. Nuclear Electricity Generation
Billion Kilowatt-Hours

U.S. nuclear power plants achieved their highest electricity generation everin 2019.

1,000

809.4

800

600

Last 6 Years

809.4 in 2019807.1 in 2018
805.0 in 2017805.7 in 2016
797.2 in 2015
797.2 in 2014

400

200

0
1980

1986

1992

1998

2004

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: March 2020

9

2010

2016

2019

PERFORMANCE AND COST

U.S. Nuclear Industrywide Capacity Factors
U.S. nuclear power plants achieved the highest capacity factor ever in 2019
and an average capacity factor of 90 percent over the last 20 years.

93.4%
100%
90%
80%
70%

Last 6 Years

93.4% in 201992.3% in 201892.2% in 201792.1% in 2016
92.2% in 2015
91.7% in 2014

60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
1988

1992

1996

2000

2004

2008

2012

Note: U.S. Energy Information Administration reports 93.5 percent capacity factor for 2019. NEI’s calculation(93.4 percent) accurately accounts for Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station’s closure in May 2019 andThree Mile Island Nuclear Station’s closure in September 2019.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: March 2020102016 2019

PERFORMANCE AND COST

2019 U.S. Electricity Generation Fuel Shares
Nearly 20 percent of U.S. energy generation comes from nuclear.

1.9%
Biomass& Petroleum

1.8%
Solar

6.8%
Hydro

0.4%
Geothermal

19.7%
Nuclear

7.3%
Wind

23.5%
Coal

38.4%
Natural Gas

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: March 2020

11PERFORMANCE AND COST

Industry Average Total Generating Costs
2019 Dollars per Megawatt-Hour

U.S. nuclear power plants achieved the lowest electricity generating costs
since 2002.

$6.15
Fuel

TOTAL
GENERATING$30.41$18.55

Operations$5.71

Capital

Total generating cost is the sum of the fuel, capital expenditure and operations costs. The intent of the cost data,collected by EUCG, is to perform benchmarking comparisons on operation and maintenance and capital costs
among nuclear power plant operators. The cost data does not represent the full costs of operations as it does
not include market and operational risk management (including but not limited to revenue uncertainty, equipment
malfunctions, regulatory changes), property taxes, spent fuel storage costs, or returns on investment that would be
key factors in decisions about whether to continue operating a particular station. Also not included in the EUCG data
are costs that could be relevant for other considerations such as depreciation or interest costs.
Source: Electric Utility Cost Group.
Updated: July 2020

12PERFORMANCE AND COST

Industry Average Total Generating Costs
2019 Dollars Per Megawatt-Hour

Industry Average$30.41
Multiple Unit Sites$28.37Single Unit Sites$38.40Total generating cost is the sum of the fuel, capital expenditure and operations costs. The intent of the cost data,collected by EUCG, is to perform benchmarking comparisons on operation and maintenance and capital costs
among nuclear power plant operators. The cost data does not represent the full costs of operations as it does
not include market and operational risk management (including but not limited to revenue uncertainty, equipment
malfunctions, regulatory changes), property taxes, spent fuel storage costs, or returns on investment that would be
key factors in decisions about whether to continue operating a particular station. Also not included in the EUCG data
are costs that could be relevant for other considerations such as depreciation or interest costs.
Source: Electric Utility Cost Group.
Updated: July 2020

13

PERFORMANCE AND COST

U.S. Nuclear Industry Total Generating Cost Trends
2019 Dollars Per Megawatt-Hour• U.S. nuclear industry has achieved the ambitious goal of 30 percent
reduction in total generating costs through the industrywide
Delivering the Nuclear Promise initiative.
• Average total generating cost have decreased from $44.57 per
megawatt-hour in 2012 peak to $30.41 per megawatt-hour in 2019,a reduction of nearly 32 percent.
YEAR

FUEL

CAPITALOPERATIONSTOTALGENERATING

2002

$6.18

$4.23

$20.08$30.50

2004

$5.70

$6.10

$20.02$31.82

2007

$5.54

$6.61

$20.59$32.73

2010

$7.29

$10.09$22.46$39.83

2011

$7.64

$11.02$23.81$42.47

2012

$7.97

$12.19$24.41$44.57

2015

$7.37

$8.60

$22.49$38.45

2016

$7.16

$7.18

$21.76$36.11

2017

$6.71

$6.92

$21.39$35.03

2018

$6.47

$6.32

$20.12$32.91

2019

$6.15

$5.71

$18.55$30.41

2018-2019

-4.9%

-9.6%

-7.8%

-7.6%

2012-2019-22.7%-53.1%-24.0%-31.8%

Total generating cost is the sum of the fuel, capital expenditure and operations costs. The intent of the cost data,collected by EUCG, is to perform benchmarking comparisons on operation and maintenance and capital costs
among nuclear power plant operators. The cost data does not represent the full costs of operations as it does
not include market and operational risk management (including but not limited to revenue uncertainty, equipment
malfunctions, regulatory changes), property taxes, spent fuel storage costs, or returns on investment that would be
key factors in decisions about whether to continue operating a particular station. Also not included in the EUCG data
are costs that could be relevant for other considerations such as depreciation or interest costs.
Source: Electric Utility Cost Group.
Updated: July 2020

14

PERFORMANCE AND COST

U.S. Nuclear Industry Capital Cost Trends
Capital expenditures per megawatt-hour decreased 9.6 percent in 2019 from 2018.

10
9

Costs ($B, in 2019 dollars)

8
7
6
5

$4.6B

4
3
2
1
0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Sustaining

Regulatory

Infrastructure(Nonpower Block)

Information
Technology

Enhancements

Capital Spares

Source: Electric Utility Cost Group.
Updated: July 2020

15

2019

PERFORMANCE AND COST

U.S. Nuclear Industry Operations Cost Trends
Operations costs per megawatt-hour decreased 7.8 percent in 2019 from 2018.

20
18
16

$15B

Costs ($B, in 2019 dollars)

14
12
10
8
6
4
2
0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

Work
Management

Training

SupportServices

Operations

FuelManagement

Materials
and Services

Loss
Prevention

Engineering

Source: Electric Utility Cost Group.
Updated: July 2020

16

2019

PERFORMANCE AND COST

U.S. Nuclear Industry Fuel Cost Trends

Fuel costs per megawatt-hour decreased 4.9 percent in 2019 from 2018.

7
6
$5B

Costs ($B, in 2019 dollars)

5
4
3
2
1
0
2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

Source: Electric Utility Cost Group.
Updated: July 2020

17

2016

2017

2018

2019

STATUS AND OUTLOOKPrematurely Retired Nuclear Power Plants••••

8,343 megawatts-electric of baseload capacity
42.7 million metric tons of carbon emissions avoided
More than 7,000 direct jobs impacted
The electricity generated by these plants in their final
years was equivalent to powering 8.5 million homes

PLANT/SITE

STATE

SUMMER CLOSURECAPACITY
YEAR
(MWe)

FINAL YEAR
ELECTRICITY
GENERATED(billion kilowatthours/year)

FINAL YEARCARBONEMISSIONSAVOIDED(million metrictons/year)

Crystal River 3

FL

838

2013

7.0

4.8

San Onofre 2 & 3

CA

2,150

2013

18.1

8.0

Kewaunee

WI

566

2013

4.5

4.4

Vermont Yankee

VT

604

2014

5.1

2.5

Fort Calhoun

NE

478

2016

3.5

3.4

Oyster Creek 1

NJ

608

2018

5.4

3.9

Pilgrim 1

MA

679

2019

4.4

2.0

Three Mile Island 1

PA

803

2019

7.3

5.0

Indian Point 2

NY

1,016

2020

8.4

3.9

Duane Arnold

IA

601

2020

5.2

4.7

69.0

42.7

TOTAL

8,343

Source: Emissions avoided are calculated using regional and national fossil fuel emissions rates
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and latest plant generation and average
household electricity usage data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: August 2020

18

STATUS AND OUTLOOK

Nuclear Power Plants Announced for Premature Closure••••

8,147 megawatts-electric of baseload capacity
38.5 million metric tons of carbon emissions avoided in 201966.6 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity generated in 2019
More than 4,100 direct jobs impacted

PLANT/SITE

STATE

SUMMERCAPACITY(MWe)

PLANNED
CLOSUREYEAR

ELECTRICITY
GENERATEDIN 2019(billion kilowatthours/year)

CARBONEMISSIONSAVOIDEDIN 2019(million metrictons/year)

Indian Point 3

NY

1,038

2021

8.3

3.9

Byron 1 & 2

IL

2,300

2021

20.1

12.8

Dresden 2 & 3

IL

1,797

2021

15.1

9.6

Palisades

MI

772

2022

6.9

5.4

Diablo Canyon 1 & 2

CA

2,240

2024

16.2

6.7

66.6

38.5

TOTAL

8,147

Source: Emissions avoided are calculated using regional and national fossil fuel emissions rates from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and latest plant generation data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: August 2020

19

STATUS AND OUTLOOK

Plants Saved From Premature Closure Due to State Actions••••

15,746 megawatts-electric of baseload capacity
76.9 million metric tons of carbon emissions avoided
Nearly twice the electricity generation by all utility solar in the U.S. in 2019
More than 10,150 direct jobs saved

PLANT/SITE

STATE

SUMMERCAPACITY(MWe)

INITIALLY
ANNOUNCED
CLOSUREYEAR

ELECTRICITY
GENERATEDIN 2019(billion kilowatthours/year)

CARBONEMISSIONSAVOIDEDIN 2019(million metrictons/year)

Beaver Valley 1 & 2

PA

1,808

2021

15.5

9.9

Clinton

IL

1,065

2017

8.4

8.4

Davis-Besse

OH

894

2020

7.8

5.0

FitzPatrick

NY

848

2017

7.4

3.5

Ginna

NY

582

2017

5.0

2.4

NJ

3,500

2020-2021

26.6

17.0

Millstone 2 & 3

CT

2,073

2020

16.7

7.6

Nine Mile Point 1 & 2

NY

1,917

2017-2018

15.8

7.5

Perry

OH

1,240

2020

9.2

5.9

Quad Cities 1 & 2

IL

1,819

2018

15.5

9.9

127.9

76.9

Hope Creek andSalem 1 & 2

TOTAL

15,746

Source: Emissions avoided are calculated using regional and national fossil fuel emissions rates from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and latest plant generation data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: August 2020

20

STATUS AND OUTLOOK

Initial License Renewals

Initial License Renewals extend plant life from 40 to 60 years.
Nuclear plants with initial license renewals generated more than739 billion kilowatt-hours of carbon-free electricity in 2019,
powering over 68 million homes.

94

Reactor Units
Granted3

Reactor Units
Expected to Apply
Note: Eight reactors (Duane Arnold, Fort Calhoun, Indian Point Unit 2, Kewaunee, Oyster Creek, Pilgrim,
Three Mile Island Unit 1 and Vermont Yankee) have since ceased operations prematurely.

Source: Licensing data from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and plant generating data and average
household electricity usage from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Updated: August 202021

STATUS AND OUTLOOKSecond License Renewals
Second license renewals extend plant life from 60 to 80 years, ensuring
reliable carbon-free electricity well into at least the 2050s.

4

2

5

8

Reactor Units
Approved

Reactor Units
Under Review

Reactor Units
Expected to Apply

Publicly
Announced
Intentions
for Renewal

Turkey Point 3 & 4

Surry 1 & 2Peach Bottom 2 & 3

North Anna 1 & 2

Brunswick 1 & 2Oconee 1, 2 & 3

Catawba 1 & 2
H.B. Robinson
Harris
McGuire 1 & 2

Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Updated: August 202022

STATUS AND OUTLOOK

441 Operating Reactors Around the World
United States

94

France56
53

China*
Russia

38

Japan

33

South Korea

24

India

22

Canada19

Ukraine15

United Kingdom

15

Belgium

7

Spain

7

Sweden7

Czech Republic

6

Germany

6

Pakistan

5

Others34*China’s operating reactors count includes 4 reactors operating in Taiwan.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency - Power Reactor Information System.
Updated: August 202023

STATUS AND OUTLOOKOperating Reactors, by Supplier Country
United States

126

Russia80
67

France
China

36

Japan

31

Canada

29

India

17

South Korea

15

United Kingdom

15

Germany

12

Sweden7

Belgium

6

Sources: International Atomic Energy Agency-Power Reactor Information System.
Updated: August 202024

STATUS AND OUTLOOK

53 Reactors Under Construction Around the World
China*

12

India

7

Russia4South Korea

4

United ArabEmirates

3

United States

2

Bangladesh

2

Belarus

2

Japan

2

Pakistan

2

Slovakia

2

Turkey2

Ukraine2

United Kingdom

2

Argentina

1

Brazil1Finland

1

France1

Iran

1*Two reactor units in Taiwan, Lungmen 1 & 2, are included in China’s reactors under construction count.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency - Power Reactor Information System.
Updated: August 202025

STATUS AND OUTLOOKReactors Under Construction, by Supplier Country
Russia

17

China

12

South Korea

7

India

5

United States*

4

France

4

Japan

2

Argentina

1

Germany

1*The U.S.-supplied reactors under construction include Vogtle 3 & 4 in the U.S.,
as well as stalled Lungmen 1 & 2 in Taiwan.
Sources: International Atomic Energy Agency - Power Reactor Information System.
Updated: August 202026

STATUS AND OUTLOOKInternational Nuclear Influence
The strength of international influence is measured through domestic
nuclear supply chains and infrastructure for each country. Below, reactors
operating since 1997 and those currently under construction are categorized
by whether the country supplying major components and leading
construction efforts deployed the reactor domestically or exported thereactor internationally.

China

41

Russia16South Korea

16

India

15

FranceUnited States

5

6

27

4

7

3

6
Domestically

Japan

9

InternationallySource: International Atomic Energy Agency - Power Reactor Information System.
Updated: August 202027

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