Nuclear Power Generates 17.96% of Electricity in US - the 15th Highest Globally

Recent research has revealed that while only seven countries generate nearly all their electricity from renewable sources, the U.S. still maintains a significant reliance on nuclear power for electricity at 17.96%. 

A new study by Utility Bidder has revealed the most nuclear-powered countries in the world, taking into consideration the number of reactors per country, national output totals, and nuclear job searches to create an index score out of 10. 

You can view the research here: https://www.utilitybidder.co.uk/blog/nuclear-nations/

Nuclear NationsTop 15 Countries with Largest Nuclear Power Presence 

Rank

Country

Nuclear energy as % of national total

1

France

63.30%

2

Slovakia

59.48%

3

China

47.20%

4

Belgium

46.66%

5

Hungary

44.62%

6

Slovenia

42.13%

7

Switzerland

36.96%

8

Czech Republic

36.41%

9

Finland

34.33%

10

Bulgaria

32.54%

11

Sweden

29.83%

12

South Korea

27.80%

13

Spain

20.52%

14

Romania

20.04%

15

United States

17.96%

France derives 63.30% of its electricity from nuclear energy due to a long-standing policy based on energy security. Government policy, set in 2014, aimed to reduce nuclear’s share of electricity generation to 50% by 2025. This target was delayed in 2019 to 2035 before being abandoned in 2023.

Almost 60% of the energy produced by Slovakia comes from nuclear power plants, which, in turn, come exclusively from Russian nuclear fuel. Slovakia has five nuclear reactors generating over half of its electricity and one more under construction. 

China derives 47.20% of its electricity from nuclear energy and has been expanding international cooperation with nuclear-heavy nations, including Russia and France. In April, China and France signed cooperative agreements on strengthening their four-decade-long close relationship in nuclear energy.

Further findings from the study:

  • The United States is by far the largest nuclear electricity producer, with 772,221 GWh of nuclear electricity in 2022. As of 2023, 93 units were operational as the US works toward net-zero emissions by 2050.

  • The United States also recorded the highest volume of nuclear job searches in the last year, with 9,600 searches between November 2022 and October 2023. Nuclear power plants in the US can operate for over eighty years or more, providing jobs for multiple generations of workers.

  • When considering nations that utilise nuclear power, Brazil has the smallest nuclear energy production as a percentage of total national power - at 2.14%.

Utility Bidder | https://www.utilitybidder.co.uk/