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Nuclear power provides almost 20 percent of our nation’s electricity. Nuclear power is the only carbon-free source of baseload power (power that is available around the clock) currently available. Advanced nuclear technologies can help electric companies increase the nation’s baseload power supply with a carbon-free source of energy.
In fact, the improved performance of U.S. nuclear plants over the past decade has made a substantial contribution to reducing the electric sector's GHG emissions. High levels of performance from U.S. nuclear plants must be sustained in order to meet the challenge of significantly reducing the nation's GHG emissions.
Today, 22 companies and consortia are preparing license applications to build and operate as many as 34 new nuclear reactors—or approximately 43,400 MW of generating capacity. In addition, power uprates—or increased generation and capacity improvements—at existing nuclear plants will provide additional GHG reductions.
The electric power industry also is actively participating in domestic and international partnerships to further the development of next-generation nuclear technologies.
Challenges
Significant deployment of new nuclear plants is at least 10 years away. One major barrier to the development of new nuclear plants is the uncertainty surrounding federal loan guarantees. Also, unresolved questions about the disposal of spent fuel from nuclear plants and high capital costs are major challenges to the significant deployment of a new generation of nuclear plants. These issues must be resolved for the United States to make additional significant reductions in GHGs.
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