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Power-plant data insights

Facts and rankings from the PowerAtlas open dataset: nuclear build speed, the combined-cycle / HRSG fleet, the construction pipeline and more.

Nuclear build speed — fastest countries

Average years from construction start to grid connection (countries with 4+ reactors on record).

CountryAvg build timeSample
1. Japan4.1 yr16 reactors
2. Italy5.2 yr4 reactors
3. Ukraine5.8 yr4 reactors
4. Canada6.0 yr6 reactors
5. Sweden6.0 yr4 reactors
6. France6.1 yr21 reactors
7. South Korea6.2 yr6 reactors
8. China6.4 yr15 reactors

Fastest reactors ever built

ReactorCountryModelBuild time
Marcoule nuclear power plantFranceunknown1 yr
Vallecitos nuclear power plantUnited States of Americaunknown1 yr
Big Rock Point nuclear power plantUnited States of Americaunknown2 yr
SM-1 nuclear power plantUnited States of Americaunknown2 yr
HamaokaJapanBWR-43 yr
OnagawaJapanBWR-53 yr
ShimaneJapanBWR-33 yr
TomariJapanM (2-loop)3 yr
TsurugaJapanMitsubishi advanced pressurized water reactor (APWR)3 yr
Kola NPPRussiaVVER 6003 yr

Reactor types worldwide

Reactor typeUnits
Pressurized Water Reactor260
Boiling Water Reactor90
Unknown54
Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor25
Small Modular Reactor24
Gas-Cooled Reactor22
Fast Breeder Reactor11
High Temperature Gas Reactor10

Combined-cycle / HRSG fleet

2,237 operating combined-cycle (HRSG-bearing) plants worldwide; 404 under construction or planned. Explore the full set in the HRSG / combined-cycle map.

CountryOperating CCGT plants
1. United States of America500
2. China244
3. Italy82
4. Russia82
5. Mexico80
6. Germany79
7. India67
8. Spain62
9. Iran61
10. South Korea54

What is being built right now

Power plants currently under construction or in pre-construction, by fuel.

FuelPlants in the pipeline
Gas497
Wind135
Coal106
Nuclear49
Hydro48
Oil35
Solar32
Other1
Biomass1

Frequently asked questions

Which country builds nuclear reactors fastest?

Japan has the fastest average reactor construction time at about 4.1 years (from construction start to grid connection, across 16 reactors).

What is the most common type of nuclear reactor?

The most common reactor type is the pressurized water reactor (260 units in the dataset).

How many combined-cycle (HRSG) power plants are operating worldwide?

About 2,237 combined-cycle gas plants are operating, each carrying one or more heat-recovery steam generators (HRSGs); a further 404 are under construction or planned.

How many coal plants use supercritical technology?

Of coal units with combustion data, about 24% use supercritical or ultra-supercritical technology (1,037 of 4,253).