German Nuclear Power Plants Global Leaders in 2003

Isar 2 NPP world electricity production champion for fifth time in a row

Berlin, 01.03.2004


The world`s most successful nuclear power plants are operated in Germany. Six of the world`s top ten production results were achieved by German nuclear power plants last year. Having produced an annual total of 12.32 billion kilowatt hours (kWh), the Isar 2 NPP was world electricity production champion for the fifth time in a row.

The German Atomic Forum (DAtF) welcomes this result and sees these figures as proof of the safe and reliable operation of the nuclear power plants. Despite operating the comparatively small number of only 19 reactors, Germany produced the fourth-highest amount of electricity in 2003 behind the USA, France and Japan. In Germany, about one third of the electricity produced presently comes from nuclear power, thus saving natural resources and contributing hugely to fulfilling the Federal Government`s ambitious climate protection targets. In the so-called base-load area - the supply of electricity around the clock - nuclear power even represents the most important pillar in Germany with a share of around 50 %.

Since the mid-80s, nuclear electricity generation has doubled globally. The share of nuclear power in world-wide electricity production is about 17 %. 438 reactor units are currently in operation in 31 countries, among them all major industrialised nations as well as the threshold countries Brazil, China and India. While temporarily shut-down reactors in Canada are taken back into service and the USA and France are increasing their nuclear power potential by capacity increases and the prolongation of operating times, a new reactor is about to be built in Finland. At the end of 2003, there were 32 nuclear power plant units under construction in 12 different countries. This goes to show that nuclear power is by no means on the way out.

Top Ten 2003

Country	Nuclear power plant	Operator	Manufacturer	Gross design electrical rating MW	Gross electrical energy generated bn. kWh
Deutschland	Isar-2	E.ON Kernkraft	Siemens	1.475	12,32
Frankreich	Cattenom-3	EDF	Framatome	1.362	11,77
Deutschland	Emsland	KLE	Siemens	1.400	11,71
Deutschland	Phillipsburg-1	EnKK	Siemens	1.458	11,63
Deutschland	Grohnde	KWG	Siemens	1.430	11,58
Frankreich	Civeaux-1	EDF	Framatome	1.561	11,42
USA	Grand Gulf-1	Entergy	GE	1.306	11,35
Deutschland	Neckar-2	EnKK	Siemens	1.365	11,30
USA	Palo Verde-1	Arizona NPP	CE	1.307	11,22
Deutschland	Brokdorf	E.ON Kernkraft	Siemens	1.440	11,12

Note:
More detailed statistics can be ordered from DAtF. The table is based i. a. on details published by the information service "platts Nucleonics Week", McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.