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).
| Country | Avg build time | Sample |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Japan | 4.1 yr | 16 reactors |
| 2. United States of America | 4.8 yr | 31 reactors |
| 3. Italy | 5.2 yr | 4 reactors |
| 4. Ukraine | 5.8 yr | 4 reactors |
| 5. Canada | 6.0 yr | 6 reactors |
| 6. Sweden | 6.0 yr | 4 reactors |
| 7. France | 6.1 yr | 21 reactors |
| 8. South Korea | 6.2 yr | 6 reactors |
Fastest reactors ever built
| Reactor | Country | Model | Build time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marcoule nuclear power plant | France | gas-cooled reactor | 1 yr |
| Vallecitos nuclear power plant | United States of America | boiling water reactor | 1 yr |
| Big Rock Point nuclear power plant | United States of America | boiling water reactor | 2 yr |
| SM-1 nuclear power plant | United States of America | pressurized water reactor | 2 yr |
| Hamaoka | Japan | BWR-4 | 3 yr |
| Onagawa | Japan | BWR-5 | 3 yr |
| Shimane | Japan | BWR-3 | 3 yr |
| Tomari | Japan | M (2-loop) | 3 yr |
| Tsuruga | Japan | Mitsubishi advanced pressurized water reactor (APWR) | 3 yr |
| Kola NPP | Russia | VVER 600 | 3 yr |
Reactor types worldwide
| Reactor type | Units |
|---|---|
| Pressurized Water Reactor | 227 |
| Boiling Water Reactor | 70 |
| Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor | 25 |
| Small Modular Reactor | 24 |
| Gas-Cooled Reactor | 22 |
| Fast Breeder Reactor | 11 |
| High Temperature Gas Reactor | 10 |
| Light Water Graphite Reactor | 8 |
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, then use the HRSG line calculator for Upper and Lower HP/IP line heat retained, fuel or electrical equivalent and CO₂.
| Country | Operating CCGT plants |
|---|---|
| 1. United States of America | 500 |
| 2. China | 244 |
| 3. Italy | 82 |
| 4. Russia | 82 |
| 5. Mexico | 80 |
| 6. Germany | 79 |
| 7. India | 67 |
| 8. Spain | 62 |
| 9. Iran | 61 |
| 10. South Korea | 54 |
What is being built right now
Power plants currently under construction or in pre-construction, by fuel.
| Fuel | Plants in the pipeline |
|---|---|
| Gas | 497 |
| Wind | 135 |
| Coal | 106 |
| Nuclear | 49 |
| Hydro | 48 |
| Oil | 35 |
| Solar | 32 |
| Other | 1 |
| Biomass | 1 |
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 (227 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 32% use supercritical or ultra-supercritical technology (1,037 of 3,283).