![]() ![]() Reactor suppliers in North America, Japan, Europe, Russia, China and elsewhere have a dozen new nuclear reactor designs at advanced stages of planning or under construction, while others are at a research and development stage. These and other nuclear power units now operating have been found to be safe and reliable, but they are being superseded by better designs. Over 85% of the world's nuclear electricity is generated by reactors derived from designs originally developed for naval use. Generation IV designs are still on the drawing board and will not be operational before the 2020s. The first ones are in operation in Japan and others are under construction in several countries. So-called Generation III (and III+) are the advanced reactors discussed in this paper, though the distinction from Generation II is arbitrary. Generation II reactors are typified by the present US and French fleets and most in operation elsewhere. Generation I reactors were developed in 1950-60s, and the last one shut down in the UK in 2015. Several generations of reactors are commonly distinguished. The nuclear power industry has been developing and improving reactor technology for more than five decades and is starting to build the next generation of nuclear power reactors to fill new orders. * For smaller advanced reactors see the companion page on Small Nuclear Power Reactors. These are described in a separate information paper.*
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