According to the report, China connected a record 8.3 GW of new nuclear capacity in 2018 – the second largest annual increase achieved by any country since the advent of civil nuclear power.
Of the nine reactors connected to the grid worldwide in 2018, seven were in China, with new units connected at Tianwan, Haiyang, Sanmen, Taishan and Yangjiang.
The other connections in 2018 were Rostov-4 and Leningrad 2-1 in Russia.
The WNA said global nuclear generation increased in 2018 for the sixth straight year.
Nuclear reactors generated a total of 2,563 TWh of electricity in 2018, up from 2,502 TWh in 2017. Reactors worldwide produced about 10% of global demand.
The upward trajectory was most dramatic in Asia, where nuclear generation increased nearly 12% to 533 TWh, according to the report.
Over the course of the year 55 were under construction with 36 of them in Asia. Ten were under construction in East Europe and Russia, two in North America, two in South America and five in West and Central Europe.
The WNA said nuclear growth is strong, with more than 20 new reactors scheduled to be connected before the end of 2020.
