Ten nuclear reactors were commissioned in 2015 and eight shut down

The World Nuclear Association has just announced that ten new nuclear reactors were commissioned in 2015, adding around 9,500 MW of nuclear power, i.e. twice as much as in 2014 (4.7 GW). China added eight reactors, namely Fangjiashan 2, Yangjiang 2, Hongyanhe 3, Ningde 3, Fuqing 2, Yangjiang 3, Fangchenggang 1 and Changjiang 1. South Korea commissioned the Shin Wolsong 2 and Russia commissioned Rostov-Volgodonsk-3. In addition, 484 MW of capacity were added through uprates (+290 MW in the United States, +175 MW in Sweden and +19 MW in South Korea, offset by two 19 MW downrates at Wolsong 3 and 4). On 1 December 2015, there were 439 reactors in operation with a total capacity of 382 GW, not including Tihange-2 and Doel-3 reactors in Belgium; at the start of 2015, there were 437 operable reactors and a total nuclear generating capacity of some 378 GW.



Eight units were shut down in four countries, namely 1,345 MW Grafenrheinfeld in Germany, 529 MWe Genkai 1, 320 MWe Mihama 1, 470 MWe Mihama 2, 439 MWe Shimane 1 and 341 MWe Tsuruga 1 in Japan, 638 MWe Oskarshamn 2 in Sweden and 490 MWe Wylfa 1 in the United Kingdom.

In addition, as of 1 December 2015, there were 64 reactors under construction, with a combined capacity of 67.8 GW; since then, China has started building the second Hualong One reactor at Fuqing (1,161 MW Fuqing-6) and poured first concrete for the 1150 MW Fangchenggang 3 and the 1080 MW Tianwan.



This is in line with the information provided in Enerdata's power plant database.