世界核协会-世界核能表现报告2020（英文）-2020.8-68页_7mb

World Nuclear Performance Report 2020 Summary

Core Content

The World Nuclear Performance Report 2020 provides an overview of global nuclear industry performance, highlighting key metrics, operational challenges, and case studies on nuclear flexibility and safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report is produced by the World Nuclear Association and uses data from the IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS).

Main Points

Global Nuclear Generation and Capacity

• In 2019, global nuclear reactors generated 2657 TWh of electricity, a 95 TWh increase from 2018, marking the second-highest ever output.
• The global mean capacity factor was 82.5%, up from 79.8% in 2018, indicating consistent high performance over the last 20 years.
• By the end of 2019, the world had 442 operable reactors with a total capacity of 392 GWe, down from 397 GWe in 2018.
• 13 reactors were permanently shut down in 2019, including 4 in Japan (which had not operated since 2011) and 3 in South Korea, Germany, and Taiwan due to political phase-out policies.
• 6 new reactors were connected to the grid in 2019, with 4 large PWRs (2 in China, 1 in South Korea, 1 in Russia) and 2 small reactors in Russia's Akademik Lomonosov plant.

Construction Trends

• Five reactors started construction in 2019, including 2 in China, 1 in Iran, 1 in Russia, and 1 in the UK.
• The median construction time for reactors in 2019 was 117 months, significantly higher than the 5–6 year average since 2015.
• However, Tianwan 5 in China was completed in 56 months, reflecting the benefits of series construction and experience.
• Yangjiang 6 was the second ACPR-1000 reactor to be completed, after Yangjiang 5, in 66 months.

Regional Performance

• Nuclear generation increased in Africa, Asia, South America, and East Europe & Russia, but decreased slightly in North America and 3 TWh less in West & Central Europe.
• Asia saw the strongest growth, with a 17% increase in generation.
• North America continued to have capacity factors above 90%.

Age and Performance

• There is no significant age-related decline in nuclear reactor performance.
• Reactors over 40 years of operation show a slight increase in average capacity factor, possibly due to selection bias (only the best-performing reactors are kept operational).
• Over 83% of reactors in 2019 had a capacity factor above 70%, up from less than 50% in the 1970s.

Flexibility and Economic Impact

• French nuclear reactors are highly flexible, capable of reducing output from 100% to 20% of rated capacity twice daily within 30 minutes.
• The flexibility of nuclear plants is essential for integrating intermittent renewables and maintaining grid stability.
• EDF has enhanced reactor flexibility through innovations in control rod design, allowing precise power modulation.
• Flexible operation does not impact safety or the environment, and maintenance needs remain low.
• Economic benefits include cost-effective operation in the spot market, with reduced fuel costs and optimized refueling schedules.

Impact of the Pandemic

• The nuclear industry played a crucial role in maintaining electricity supply during the pandemic, despite challenges in operating under COVID-safe conditions.
• French electricity consumption dropped by 15% in 2020, with nuclear plants adjusting to low demand by reducing output and scheduling outages.
• Flexible operation was essential to balance the grid and avoid reliance on fossil fuels.

Key Information

• Total reactors in operation at the end of 2019: 442
• Total net capacity in 2019: 392 GWe
• New grid-connected reactors in 2019: 6
• Median construction time in 2019: 117 months
• Nuclear generation in 2019: 2657 TWh
• Global average capacity factor in 2019: 82.5%
• Number of reactors permanently shut down in 2019: 13
• Tianwan 5 completed in 56 months, the fastest in 2019
• French nuclear reactors supply 70.6% of the country's electricity in 2019
• EDF operates 56 reactors with 61.3 GWe of net capacity

Conclusion

The report emphasizes the importance of nuclear energy in the global clean energy transition, especially in the face of climate change and energy security. It highlights the resilience and adaptability of nuclear reactors, particularly in France, and underscores the need for faster construction and series build to meet future energy demands and climate goals.