As the world continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic, I’m working from home in Washington, D.C. I’ve worked in the energy sector for 12 years, so I can’t help but think about how my electricity provider is making sure my lights stay on. And as NEI’s resident stats geek, I’m always thinking about numbers and their impact.
Of course, I think first of the millions of health care workers and first responders who are helping countless people and deserve our thanks. It is inspiring to see examples of collaboration and communities coming together to support each other during the pandemic.
Then, I think about the millions of dollars given by many in the industry. Utilities across the energy sector are taking rigorous measures to keep workers and their families safe, while actively assisting their communities through donations to hospitals and food banks. I’m thankful for them, too.
Even in the midst of a crisis, our work on behalf of the industry continues. Now is the time of year when we get data about how the energy sector performed the previous year. As we always do, NEI has compiled stats for the nuclear industry in the newest edition of Nuclear by the Numbers.
From all that data, here are the top 5 numbers that stood out to me the most:
- 809.4 million: U.S. nuclear power plants generated a record 809.4 million megawatt-hours of electricity, the highest since the birth of commercial nuclear power in 1957. That is nearly 20 percent of all electricity generation and nearly 55 percent of all carbon-free electricity generation in the U.S.
In other words, nuclear power is responsible for powering 75 million homes across the U.S. - 100 million: In 2019, the U.S. nuclear industry avoided over 476 million metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to taking over 100 million cars off the road.
- 93.4 percent: U.S. nuclear power plants achieved a record-high 93.4 percent capacity factor in 2019. Efficient operations mean safe operations and these sustained high capacity factors also mean there is more nuclear-generated electricity today from a smaller number of reactors. For example, to have generated the same amount of electricity 30 years prior, in 1989, it would have taken 32 additional reactors compared to 2019.
- $30.42: In 2019, the average total generating cost for nuclear energy was $30.42 per megawatt-hour, which includes fuel, capital and operations costs. The 2019 total generating costs are lowest since the Electric Utility Cost Group started collecting industrywide costs in 2002.
- 32 percent: With the 2019 record-low costs, the nuclear industry has achieved its ambitious initiative, Delivering the Nuclear Promise, by reducing total generating costs by nearly 32 percent since 2012, more than its original goal of 30 percent.
There’s one final number that supports all of the others: 24/7.
The industry could not have achieved any of these without the hardworking men and women supporting nuclear power plants. Even as many of us are isolating ourselves in the comfort of our homes, these essential workers ensure we all benefit from reliable, carbon-free electricity 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week.
All of these stats highlight how through excellent operations and continuous improvement, America’s 96 nuclear plants serve their communities and the country, which is especially important during these challenging times.
