Experience of the US Nuclear Industry and Requirements for a Viable Nuclear Industry in the Future

This paper reports on the progress of nuclear power worldwide which has slowed, even as performance of plants improved steadily. Few new plants are now on order, and only a few countries are planning to place new orders. All industrialized nations are counting on major investments in energy conservation and efficiency, along with substantial increases in the burning of natural gas, to meet electricity demand. Conservation programs will grow in impact over time. To date, a significant part of the progress in energy efficiency has come from replacing the direct burning of fuel for industrial process heating by converting to electricity. Nuclear power plants have clearly reduced the percentage of electricity generation powered by oil in the United States: from 17% in 1973 to 5.5% by 1988. Total electricity production grew by 50% in that same period.