Beatrice Lang
Nuclear power has been used in the United States for over 60 years to produce reliable, low-carbon energy. Nuclear energy is generated through sustained nuclear fission, which creates heat and electricity. In 2023, nuclear energy accounted for nearly 20% of the electricity generated in the US, a slight increase from 2022. This percentage has risen over time, with nuclear energy providing 11% of the country's electricity in 1980. The US nuclear industry has achieved gains in power plant utilisation through improved refuelling, maintenance, and safety systems.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Electricity from Nuclear Energy in the US in 2023 | 18.6% to 19% |
| Percentage of Electricity from Nuclear Energy in the US in 2022 | 18.2% |
| Percentage of Electricity from Nuclear Energy in the US in 1980 | 11% |
| Nuclear Plants' Contribution to Carbon-Free Electricity in the US | 55% |
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What You'll Learn
- In 2023, nuclear energy accounted for 18.6% of US electricity generation
- Nuclear power plants have been operational in the US for over 60 years
- The US nuclear industry has achieved gains in power plant utilisation
- The US nuclear power industry underwent consolidation in the early 2000s
- Nuclear power remains an important part of the US energy portfolio
In 2023, nuclear energy accounted for 18.6% of US electricity generation
Nuclear energy has long been a significant source of electricity in the United States. In 2023, nuclear energy accounted for 18.6% of US electricity generation, a slight increase from 18.2% in 2022. This figure translates to an output of 779 terawatt-hours (TWh), a notable rise from 1980 when nuclear plants produced 251 TWh, accounting for 11% of the country's electricity generation.
The US nuclear industry has achieved substantial gains in power plant utilisation over the years, thanks to advancements in refuelling techniques, maintenance improvements, and enhanced safety systems at existing plants. These improvements have resulted in a 40% reduction in nuclear generating costs since 2012, driven by a decrease in fuel costs, capital expenditures, and operating costs.
Nuclear power has been an essential component of the US energy portfolio for over 60 years, providing reliable and low-carbon energy. The Energy Department's Office of Nuclear Energy aims to further advance nuclear power as a resource, recognising its potential to address the nation's energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs.
The US nuclear power industry underwent significant consolidation in the early 2000s due to economies of scale, deregulation of electricity prices, and the increasing attractiveness of nuclear power compared to fossil fuel generation. Despite a near halt in new construction for over 30 years, US reliance on nuclear power has grown, with nuclear plants generating nearly 20% of the nation's electricity and about 55% of its carbon-free electricity.
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Nuclear power plants have been operational in the US for over 60 years
The US nuclear power industry has undergone significant consolidation since the early 2000s, driven by economies of scale, deregulation of electricity prices, and the increasing attractiveness of nuclear power compared to fossil fuel generation. As a result, the number of operators of nuclear plants has decreased, with a substantial consolidation of expertise. Despite a near-halt in new construction for over 30 years, US reliance on nuclear power has grown, with output increasing from 251 TWh in 1980 to 779 TWh in 2023.
This increase in output is due to the addition of 47 reactors, all approved for construction before 1977, that came online in the late 1970s and 1980s, more than doubling US nuclear generation capacity. The industry has also achieved remarkable gains in power plant utilisation through improved refuelling, maintenance, and safety systems at existing plants. Furthermore, average nuclear generation costs have decreased by 40% since 2012 due to reductions in fuel, capital, and operating costs.
Nuclear plants in the US have achieved high capacity factors, with an average of over 90% since 2001. The industry invests about $7.5 billion per year in maintenance and upgrades, and nuclear power remains an important part of the nation's energy portfolio, providing secure and low-carbon energy. In May 2017, Exelon's Three Mile Island (TMI) unit 1 and Quad Cities 1&2 failed to clear the PJM Interconnection capacity auction for 2020-21, but other plants have successfully cleared subsequent auctions.
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The US nuclear industry has achieved gains in power plant utilisation
Nuclear power has been used in the United States for more than 60 years to produce reliable, low-carbon energy. In 1980, nuclear plants produced 251 TWh, accounting for 11% of the country's electricity generation. In 2023, nuclear energy output was 779 TWh, providing about 19% to 20% of electricity. The US nuclear industry has achieved gains in power plant utilisation, with improvements in refuelling, maintenance, and safety systems at existing plants.
The average capacity factor of nuclear plants has increased over time, rising from 50% in the early 1970s to 70% in 1991, and surpassing 90% in 2002. In 2019, the average capacity factor reached a record high of 94%. The industry invests about $7.5 billion annually in maintenance and upgrades, and nuclear plants operate at full power more than 93% of the time.
The number of operating nuclear reactors in the US has declined in recent years, with 92 reactors in operation in 2022 compared to a peak of 112 reactors. However, power plant uprates—modifications to increase capacity—have allowed the nuclear reactor fleet to maintain high capacity-utilisation rates. These uprates include improvements in refuelling, with some reactors shortening the length of time they are offline for refuelling, contributing to increased annual electricity generation.
The US nuclear industry has also achieved a significant reduction in generating costs, with a 40% decrease since 2012. This cost reduction has been driven by a decrease in fuel costs, capital expenditures, and operating costs. Nuclear power plants generally use more of their electricity generation capacity annually than hydropower facilities, and nuclear power is the largest source of clean energy in the US, generating over 800 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year.
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The US nuclear power industry underwent consolidation in the early 2000s
Nuclear power currently contributes nearly 20% of the electricity generated in the US, with nuclear plants spread across 30 different states. This is a notable increase from 1980 when nuclear plants produced 251 TWh, accounting for 11% of the country's electricity generation.
The US nuclear power industry underwent significant consolidation in the early 2000s, driven by economies of scale, deregulation of electricity prices, and the growing attractiveness of nuclear power compared to fossil generation. By the end of 1999, the number of individual utilities with ownership interest in operable nuclear power plants dropped from 101 to 87, and the largest 12 of them owned 54% of the capacity.
The deregulation of electricity markets in some states led to a wave of mergers and acquisitions in 2000 and 2001. Today, the top 10 utilities account for over 70% of total nuclear capacity. This consolidation has occurred through mergers of utility companies and purchases of reactors by companies aiming to expand their nuclear capacity. The number of operators of nuclear plants has decreased from 45 in 1995 to about 30 in 2025, reflecting a concentration of expertise in the industry.
The revival of interest in nuclear power in the 2000s, dubbed the "nuclear renaissance", led to several applications for new nuclear reactors. However, many of these projects faced economic challenges and were subsequently cancelled after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011. Despite this, the US nuclear industry has achieved significant improvements in power plant utilisation through enhanced refuelling, maintenance, and safety systems.
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Nuclear power remains an important part of the US energy portfolio
Nuclear power has been an integral part of the energy mix in the United States for over 60 years. In 2023, nuclear energy accounted for approximately 18.6% to 19% of the country's electricity generation, a slight increase from 18.2% in 2022. This percentage translates to 779 terawatt-hours of electricity produced, with the US being the world's largest producer of commercial nuclear power.
Nuclear power's role in the US energy portfolio has been significant, providing reliable, low-carbon energy and supporting national defence activities. The US nuclear industry has also made impressive strides in improving power plant utilisation through enhanced refuelling, maintenance, and safety systems. This has resulted in a 40% reduction in nuclear generation costs since 2012, making nuclear power more economically attractive compared to other energy sources.
The US has 94 commercial reactors with a net capacity of 97 gigawatts, including 63 pressurised water reactors and 31 boiling water reactors. The development and utilisation of nuclear power in the US began in the 1940s, with Argonne National Laboratory playing a pivotal role in designing, building, and operating reactors. The first usable amount of electrical power generated from nuclear fission occurred in December 1951 at the Experimental Breeder Reactor I (EBR-I) in Idaho.
Despite a hiatus in new construction for over three decades, US reliance on nuclear power has grown. This growth is attributed to the additional capacity provided by 47 reactors that came online in the late 1970s and 1980s, more than doubling US nuclear generation capacity. In recent years, there has been a push to stimulate growth in the industry, with the aim of quadrupling capacity by 2050. Nuclear power remains a critical component of the US energy portfolio, providing a substantial contribution to the country's electricity generation and energy security.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2023, nuclear energy accounted for between 18.6% and 19% of the US's electricity generation, up from 18.2% in 2022.
No. In 1980, nuclear plants produced 251 TWh, accounting for 11% of the country's electricity generation.
No. In 2022, nuclear power generated 18.2% of electricity in the US, down from 19% in 2019.
Nuclear power generates about 55% of carbon-free electricity in the US.
