50 Countries Weigh Nuclear New Build

摘要

Nuclear reactors may produce more than one-fifth of global electricity by 2050 as demand for power rises in countries such as China and India, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. At the higher end of forecasts, atomic power output would climb to 22 percent of the total in 2050 from the current 16 percent, according to the study published by Paris-based OECD's Nuclear Energy Agency. To reach this level, 54 reactors would need to be built each year between 2030 and 2050. At present 439 reactors are operating in the world. Some 50 countries are considering introducing nuclear power and another 12 are actively preparing for it. More than 90 new plants are approved and in the planning stage, while at least double that are proposed, according to the World Nuclear Association. Applications have been filed for about 20 reactors in the U.S. China plans to quadruple nuclear capacity from existing and new reactors by 2020. As of June, 41 reactors were being built around the world, with an average construction time of 62 months, the OECD said.