Sustainability, renewable energy, net zero – these terms, and more, are at the forefront of our climate change vernacular, with the conversation concentrated on how global industries can move towards clean energy to combat the climate crisis. As we seek to rely less on high-emission energy sources, nuclear energy can serve as a low-carbon, transitory solution. In fact, 441 nuclear reactors currently generate 10% of global electricity. Although not renewable, nuclear energy is still recyclable and produces zero greenhouse gases, serving as the second-largest source of low-carbon energy in the world behind hydropower.
可持续性、可再生能源、净零排放——这些术语以及更多术语是我们气候变化术语的最前沿，对话集中在全球工业如何转向清洁能源以应对气候危机。当我们寻求减少对高排放能源的依赖时，核能可以作为一种低碳、暂时的解决方案。事实上，目前 441 座核反应堆发电量占全球电力的 10%。尽管核能不可再生，但它仍然可以回收利用，并且产生零温室气体，是仅次于水力发电的世界第二大低碳能源。
Here are the world’s top 10 nuclear energy-producing countries.
以下是世界十大核能生产国。
Recently replacing Sweden in the number 10 spot, nuclear energy currently accounts for 22% of Spain’s electricity. The country has an installed capacity of 7.1GW, generated by seven reactors. Nuclear plants are currently essential to the country's energy grid needs and ministers have thus lifted limits to their operational lifespans. In 2020 and 2021, six of the country's seven reactors renewed their licences. All of these would expire before 2035 – the deadline for the Spanish Government's planned phaseout of nuclear power.
最近取代瑞典位居第十，核能目前占西班牙电力的 22%。该国装机容量为 7.1GW，由 7 个反应堆发电。核电站目前对于国家能源网的需求至关重要，因此部长们取消了对其运行寿命的限制。 2020年和2021年，该国七座反应堆中有六座更新了许可证。所有这些都将在 2035 年——西班牙政府计划逐步淘汰核电的最后期限之前到期。
Coming in at number 9 is the UK, with a combined net nuclear energy capacity of 8.9GW from 13 operable nuclear reactors. The country generated a total of 51TWh of nuclear energy in 2019 – 15.6% of the UK’s total electricity output. Expected to open in June of 2027, construction has started on two new nuclear reactors, Hinkley Point C1 and Hinkley Point C2, which will supply low-carbon electricity for 6 million homes. Approximately half of its existing nuclear power reactors will be retired by 2035.
排名第九的是英国，其 13 个可运行核反应堆的核能净容量合计为 8.9GW。 2019年，该国核能发电总量为51太瓦时——占英国总发电量的15.6%。欣克利角 C1 和欣克利角 C2 两座新核反应堆预计将于 2027 年 6 月投入使用，现已开始建设，将为 600 万家庭提供低碳电力。到 2035 年，大约一半的现有核电反应堆将退役。
With 15 operable nuclear reactors and a combined net installed capacity of 13.1GW, Ukraine is in the number 8 spot. Two reactors (Khmelnitski 3 and 4) are currently under construction, with heavy water reactors providing 2GW net capacity. Ukraine produced a total of 78.1 TWh of nuclear energy in 2019, accounting for 53.9% of the total electricity produced in the country. Due to current geopolitical instability – and to subsequently lessen its reliance on Russian nuclear fuel and services – the country is proactively purchasing fuel from US-based Westinghouse.
乌克兰拥有 15 座可运行核反应堆，总净装机容量为 13.1GW，排名第八。两座反应堆（赫梅利尼茨基 3 号和 4 号）目前正在建设中，其中重水反应堆可提供 2GW 的净容量。乌克兰2019年核电总发电量为78.1太瓦时，占该国总发电量的53.9%。由于当前地缘政治不稳定 ， 并随后减少对俄罗斯核燃料和服务的依赖 ， 该国正在积极从美国西屋电气购买燃料。
In the number 7 spot is Canada, with 19 operational nuclear reactors that are spread across four power plants, amounting to a total of 13.6GW net installed capacity. Canada generated 94.9TWh of nuclear energy in 2019, accounting for 14.9% of the country’s total power generation. All the power plants in Canada utilise Canadian Deuterium-Uranium (CANDU) reactors, which are pressurised heavy water reactors that use uranium as fuel, and water as both a coolant and moderator.
排名第七的是加拿大，拥有 19 个运行中的核反应堆，分布在四个发电厂，净装机容量总计 13.6GW。加拿大2019年核电发电量为94.9太瓦时，占该国总发电量的14.9%。加拿大的所有发电厂均采用加拿大氘铀（CANDU）反应堆，这是一种加压重水反应堆，使用铀作为燃料，水作为冷却剂和慢化剂。
With 24 nuclear reactors in operation – a combined 24.5GW capacity – South Korea is in number 6. The south-eastern region of the country is a major hub for high electricity demand due to it being home to several heavy manufacturing plants. South Korea generated 139TWh of nuclear energy in 2019, deriving a total of 26% of its total electricity from nuclear energy in 2019.
韩国拥有 24 座正在运行的核反应堆，总装机容量为 24.5GW，位居第六。该国东南部地区拥有数家重型制造工厂，因此成为高电力需求的主要中心。韩国2019年核能发电量为139太瓦时，2019年其总发电量的26%来自核能。
Often touted as the original frontrunner of nuclear technology due to the USSR’s industrial efforts, Russia takes the number 5 spot, with 38 operating reactors and a net capacity of 29.6GW. Russia produced 195.5TWh of nuclear energy in 2019, which accounted for approximately 19.7% of the total electricity generated. Two reactors – as part of the Kursk II project – with a net capacity of 2.3GW, are currently under construction.
由于苏联的工业努力，俄罗斯经常被誉为核技术最初的领跑者，俄罗斯位居第五，拥有 38 座正在运行的反应堆，净容量为 29.6GW。俄罗斯2019年核能发电量为195.5太瓦时，约占总发电量的19.7%。作为库尔斯克二期项目的一部分，两座净容量为2.3GW 的反应堆目前正在建设中。
At number 4 is Japan, with a total of 33 operational nuclear plants that have 31.7GW net installed capacity. Two reactors, Ohma 1 and Shimane 3, are currently under construction but will, when finished, account for an additional net capacity of 2.6GW. Prior to the Fukushima nuclear incident in 2011, 30% of Japan’s energy requirements were derived from nuclear energy. Now, the country imports 90% of its energy requirements.
位居第四的是日本，共有 33 座运营核电站，净装机容量为 31.7GW。 Ohma 1 和 Shimane 3 两座反应堆目前正在建设中，建成后将新增 2.6GW 净容量。 2011年福岛核事故之前，日本30%的能源需求来自核能。现在，该国 90% 的能源需求依赖进口。
A net installed capacity of 50.8GW via 51 nuclear reactors makes China the third biggest nuclear energy-producing country in the world. Though currently under construction, China is planning to grow its power system, with 18 reactors to open soon. Collectively, this would generate 17.2GW for China’s power systems. The country is also planning to build an additional 39 nuclear reactors with a combined gross capacity of 43GW.
现有的51座核反应堆的净装机容量达到50.8GW，使中国成为世界第三大核能生产国。中国也正计划扩大其电力系统，目前正在建设中，即将投入运行的有18 座反应堆，它们将为中国电力系统产生 17.2GW 的发电量。除此之外，中国未来还计划再建设 39 座核反应堆，总容量为 43GW。
Generating a larger share of nuclear energy than any of its counterparts on this list, France produces two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear sources from 56 operational reactors, which collectively generated 338.7TWh in 2020. Low production costs and general expertise in this area have allowed the country to generate approximately 17% of its electricity from recycled nuclear fuel. France will build more reactors in years to come, aiming to decarbonise its power generation by 2050.
法国的核能发电量比名单上的任何国家都多，法国三分之二的电力来自 56 个运行反应堆的核能，2020 年总共发电 338.7 太瓦时。该领域的低生产成本和普遍的专业知识使得使该国约 17% 的电力来自回收的核燃料。法国将在未来几年建造更多反应堆，目标是到 2050 年实现发电脱碳。
In the number 1 top spot is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the USA. It boasts a total nuclear capacity of 91.5GW, which is generated by 93 reactors that are spread across 30 of the country’s 50 states. This capacity currently allows for the production of 20% of the country’s total electricity consumption, with the US – particularly since 2016 – relying more on coal and gas for power production. The state of Georgia is to see the construction of two more reactors, part of the Vogtle project.
毫无疑问，位居第一的是美国。它拥有 91.5GW 的核总容量，由分布在该国 50 个州中的 30 个州的 93 座反应堆发电。目前，这一产能可满足该国总电力消耗的 20%，特别是自 2016 年以来 ：美国 更多地依赖煤炭和天然气来发电。佐治亚州将再建造两座反应堆，这是沃格特尔项目的一部分。
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