WNN reports that global nuclear generating capacity increased slightly in 2015 as 10 new reactors began supplying electricity and 8 were permanently shut down, according to World Nuclear Association data.
Last year saw new reactors with total capacity of 9,497 MWe connected to the grid, up from the 4,763 MWe added in 2014. China added 8 units, which were, in month order: Fangjiashan 2, Yangjiang 2, Hongyanhe 3, Ningde 3, Fuqing 2, Yangjiang 3, Fangchenggang 1 and Changjiang 1.
South Korea and Russia added Shin Wolsong 2 and Beloyarsk 4. Uprates saw a further 484 MWe added. South Korea, the USA and Sweden accounted for 19 MWe, 290 MWe and 175 MWe of this total. There were two downrates, of 19 MWe each, at South Korea Wolsong 3 and 4.
As of 31 December 2015, there were 439 reactors in operation, with a total 382.2 GWe. Since then, Belgium has restarted Tihange 2 on 14 December, and Doel 3 was expected to follow before year-end. In addition, the Belgian nuclear regulator last month approved the restart of units 1 and 2 of the Doel plant, each of these has a generating capacity of 433 MWe.
For comparison, at the start of 2015 there were 437 operable reactors and a total nuclear generating capacity of some 377.7 GWe. China started construction of the 1,080 MWe Hongyanhe 5 in March, the 1,161 MWe Fuqing 5 in May, the 1,080 MWe Hongyanhe 6 in July, and the 1,161 MWe Fuqing 6, the 1,150 MWe Fanngchenggang 3 and the 1,080 MWe Tianwan 5 in December. The United Arab Emirates started construction of the 1,400 MWe Barakah 4 in September.
As of 1 December 2015, there were 64 units under construction, with a combined total generating capacity of 67.8 GWe. Since then, China has launched construction of the second Hualong One reactor at the site of the Fuqing nuclear power plant, the 1,161 MWe Fuqing 6 - on 22 December. In recent days, China has also poured first concrete for the 1,150 MWe Fangchenggang 3 and the 1,080 MWe Tianwan 5 - on 24 and 27 December, respectively.
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