The most powerful nuclear power plants in the world. The most powerful nuclear power plants in the world. oh place. The most powerful nuclear power plant in France and Western Europe

Now it is no longer possible to imagine the further development of human society without electricity. All industries, communications, transport, production and operation household appliances built on the use of electricity. And every day it is needed more and more. New ways to obtain this important resource are being developed. Many countries around the world are searching for renewable alternative energy sources that can completely replace traditional ones and stop the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to the greenhouse effect. Nuclear energy, which is based on the use of controlled reactions in nuclear reactors, makes it possible to obtain a large number of electricity. powerful nuclear power plant in the world produces more electricity than all alternative sources taken together.

There are currently 191 operating worldwide nuclear power plant, with a total capacity of about 392,168 MW. Modern nuclear power plants use Various types reactors. For example, the most powerful operating power unit is installed at the Civo Nuclear Power Plant, an operating nuclear power plant in western France. Its first and second units operate on a pressurized water reactor PVR, each with a capacity of 1,561 MW. The height of the cooling towers is 180 m.

Despite the fact that the attitude towards nuclear power plants in many countries of the world is very ambiguous, today only they can provide required amount electricity. If all safety measures are observed, and if they are properly designed and operated, nuclear power plants can operate without failures. The advantages of this method of generating electricity are obvious:

  • economic benefit based on low production costs;
  • no harmful emissions;
  • low cost of fuel delivery;
  • opportunity long work in a controlled autonomous mode;
  • a small number of service personnel.

In Japan, Niigata Prefecture, in the city of Kashiwazaki, a nuclear power plant consisting of seven reactors was built. Five of them are boiling water nuclear reactors BWR, and two improved ones are ABWRs. Their total capacity is 8,212 MW. The first power unit began generating electricity in 1985.

Due to the earthquake that occurred on July 16, 2007, which had a rating of 6.8 on the Richter scale, and the epicenter was located 19 km from the nuclear power plant, the work of Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was suspended. During the earthquake, only four power units were operating, and three were undergoing routine inspections. As a result of soil movement under the reactors, the station received more than 50 damages. A fire broke out at the transformer of unit No. 3. The owners of the nuclear power plant claim that it started due to direct contact between copper wires and “other metal”, as a result of which a spark broke out and the oil fluids ignited. During strong tremors transformer substation of the first power unit was moved and most of the wires were disconnected. On blocks Nos. 1, 2, 4, 7, transformers had damaged barriers that were intended to prevent oil leakage. Only the transformers of the fifth power unit remained intact.

However, the consequences of the leak of radioactive water from the tanks where spent fuel was stored directly under the sixth reactor were the most severe. In addition, the amount of liquid that leaked into the sea remains unknown. In addition, 438 containers with radioactive waste were overturned by the disaster. Due to special filters damaged as a result of strong shocks, radioactive dust fell outside the nuclear power plant. Japanese experts pointed out that transformer buildings and a number of other buildings in which non-nuclear equipment was installed had an insignificant seismic strength margin. Therefore, everyone was lucky that the fire occurred on only one transformer.

Kashiwazaki-Kariwa was shut down for inspection, restoration and additional anti-seismic measures. Damage from the earthquake was estimated at US$12.5 billion. Losses from nuclear power plant downtime and repairs alone amounted to $5.8 billion.

After a series of restoration work and necessary repairs, in May 2009 the seventh power unit (which suffered less than the others) was launched in test mode. In August of the same year, the sixth was launched, and the first began its work only on May 31, 2010. The second, third and fourth power units were never launched until the later disaster at Fukushima-1. In this regard, it was decided to shut down all operating Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactors.

Other largest nuclear power plants in the world

The second place in power is occupied by the Canadian Bruce Nuclear Power Plant - 6,232 MW. It was built in 1987 on the shores of Lake Huron in Ontario. It differs from other nuclear power plants in its truly huge occupied area - more than 932 hectares. It has eight operating reactors.

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (Ukraine) is considered third in the world in terms of the amount of electricity generated. Its capacity is 6,000 MW. It is located near the Kakhovka reservoir, not far from the town of Energodar. Europe's largest nuclear power plant employs 11.5 thousand service personnel.

The fourth largest nuclear power plant in the world is the Hanul Nuclear Power Plant in South Korea. Its capacity is 5,900 MW. But that's it for now. In the future, its capacity is planned to be increased to 8,700 MW.

The Balakovo Nuclear Power Plant is considered the most powerful nuclear power plant. It is located in the Saratov region, 8 km from the city of Balakovo. Its capacity is more than 3,000 MW, which is approximately equal to a fifth of the total energy produced by all nuclear power plants in the country. The station is served by 3,770 people. Stable water supply, necessary for trouble-free operation of pressurized water power reactors, is ensured by a closed circuit, which was formed through the construction of dams on parts of the Saratov reservoir. The location of the nuclear power plant was chosen taking into account sanitary zones that do not require the demolition of nearby settlements.

Since the second half of the 20th century, nuclear power plants have been generating great amount cheap electricity, with the help of which technology and quality of life are improved for the majority of people on our planet. It has now become clear that the most powerful nuclear power plant in the world must also be the most reliable, earthquake-resistant and safe.

Recent events in Japan have once again frightened humanity and forced us to think about the correctness of using the peaceful atom. Germany has already abandoned the peaceful nuclear program, and many states have begun developing new program clean energy production.

The first nuclear power plant was built in 1960, and within ten years there were 116 of them. Today, there are more than 450 operating nuclear reactors in the world, producing 350 gigawatts of electricity.

Most of the reactors are located in the USA - 104. By comparison, in France - 59, and in Russia there are only 29. The lion's share of the energy generated by Russia and France supplies the whole of Europe.

If you make a list of the world's leaders in energy production, it will look like this:

1. USA - 104 reactors.
2. France – 59 reactors.
3. Japan - 53 reactors.
4. Great Britain – 35 rectors.
5. Russia – 29 reactors.
6. Germany - 19 reactors.
7. South Korea - 16 reactors.
8. Canada - 14 reactors.
9. Ukraine – 13 reactors.
10. Sweden - 11 reactors.

All other countries have less than 10 reactors.

Here is a clear example of the distribution of reactors in Europe:

The largest and most powerful reactors on our planet are:

In first place are Fukushima I and Fukushima II in Japan, already known throughout the world due to the recent events. Both power plants are interconnected and are essentially one energy point. Fukushima's total power output is 8,814 megawatts. Today, both of these power plants are an energy hole for Japan's budget. Seven reactors at these power plants are either partially destroyed or in a meltdown. The destruction of the nuclear power plant was caused by an earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan.

Second place is also occupied by the Japanese Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, located near the Sea of ​​Japan in Niigata Prefecture. The power output of all seven reactors is 8,212 megawatts.

In third place is the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. Full output power 2 reactors is 6000 megawatts. By the way, Zaporozhye NPP is one of the largest nuclear power plants in Europe and the largest in Ukraine. She is also the current longest-living record holder. Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant was built in 1977.

Fourth place is occupied by the Yongwan Nuclear Power Plant in South Korea with a total power output of 5,875 megawatts. The power plant was built in 1986.
In fifth place is the Gravelines nuclear power plant, which is located in France. The power output of its six reactors is 5,460 megawatts. Gravelines is the largest nuclear power plant in France.

The French Paluel nuclear power plant also occupies sixth place. The reactor of this nuclear power plant is the largest in the world. The output power of the Paluel reactor is 5320 megawatts.

In seventh place is the Kattnom nuclear power plant, which is located in the same France. Each reactor of this nuclear power plant produces 1,300 megawatts of electricity.

Eighth place goes to the Bruce Nuclear Power Plant, which is located in Canada. The total power output of its eight reactors is 4,693 megawatts.

Okha Nuclear Power Plant is in ninth place. This nuclear power plant is located in Japan, in Fukui Prefecture. Ohi Nuclear Power Plant has a total of four reactors, two of which produce 1,180 megawatts, the other two are five megawatts less each. The total output power of the nuclear power plant is 4494 megawatts.

After recent events, the World Association of Nuclear Operators, at an extraordinary congress, decided to strengthen safety at all existing nuclear power plants in the world, placing full responsibility for the implementation of this task on the countries that have nuclear power plants on their territory. Germany, in turn, has already abandoned the peaceful nuclear program and has begun developing a safer type of electricity production.

Many are now looking for what will happen, some say - a meteorite, others - global warming, and a third associate the end of the world with our peaceful atom.

Nuclear energy is one of the most developing areas of industry, which is dictated by the constant increase in electricity consumption. Many countries have their own sources of energy production using “peaceful atoms”.

Map of nuclear power plants in Russia (RF)

Russia is included in this number. The history of Russian nuclear power plants begins back in 1948, when the inventor of the Soviet atomic bomb I.V. Kurchatov initiated the design of the first nuclear power plant on the territory of the then Soviet Union. Nuclear power plants in Russia originate from the construction of the Obninsk Nuclear Power Plant, which became not only the first in Russia, but the first nuclear power plant in the world.


Russia is a unique country that has full-cycle nuclear energy technology, which means all stages, from ore mining to the final production of electricity. At the same time, thanks to its large territories, Russia has a sufficient supply of uranium, both in the form of the earth’s subsoil and in the form of weapons equipment.

Nowadays nuclear power plants in Russia includes 10 operating facilities that provide a capacity of 27 GW (GigaWatt), which is approximately 18% of the country's energy mix. Modern development technology makes it possible to make Russian nuclear power plants safe for environment facilities, despite the fact that the use of nuclear energy is the most dangerous production from the point of view of industrial safety.


Map nuclear power plants(NPP) in Russia includes not only operating stations, but also those under construction, of which there are about 10. At the same time, those under construction include not only full-fledged nuclear power plants, but also promising developments in the form of creating a floating nuclear power plant, which is characterized by mobility.

The list of nuclear power plants in Russia is as follows:



Current state Russian nuclear energy allows us to speak about the presence great potential, which in the foreseeable future can be realized in the creation and design of a new type of reactor, allowing the generation of large volumes of energy at lower costs.

After the terrible events that occurred in Japan, nuclear power plants began to attract a lot of attention from the world community. Disputes about the safety of nuclear power plants for the environment and human life continue to this day. But such power plants require a meager amount of fuel, which is their undoubted advantage over other types of similar structures.

There are more than 400 nuclear power plants in the world, and those discussed below are the most powerful of them.

For comparison: The capacity of the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power plant was 4,000 MW.

Our rating opens with a station located on the Japanese island of Honshu. After the Fukushima disaster, the Japanese approached the construction of a new nuclear power plant with high level professionalism and extreme caution: only three of the five reactors are currently in operation. Two reactors were shut down due to technical work to improve the safety system and protection against natural disasters.

9. Balakovo NPP (Russia) – 4000 MW

Balakovskaya is rightfully considered the largest nuclear power plant in Russia and the most powerful power plant of its kind. This is where all nuclear fuel research in our country began. All latest developments were tested here, and only after that received permission for further use at other Russian and foreign nuclear power plants. The Balakovo nuclear power plant produces a fifth of all nuclear power plants in Russia.

8. Palo Verde NPP (USA) – 4174 MW

It is the most powerful nuclear power plant in the United States. But today the capacity of 4174 MW is not the most high rate, therefore this nuclear power plant occupies only eighth place in our rating. But Palo Verde is unique in its own way: it is the only nuclear power plant in the world that is not located on the shore of a large body of water. The concept behind the reactors is cooling by using wastewater from nearby communities. However, violation of the traditions of designing nuclear power plants by American engineers raises many questions about the safety of such a power plant.

7. Ohi Nuclear Power Plant (Japan) – 4494 MW

Another representative of the Japanese nuclear industry. This nuclear power plant has a reserve of four operating reactors with a total capacity of 4494 MW. Paradoxically, this is the safest nuclear power plant in Japan. In its entire history, Okha has not had a single emergency situation related to security. Interesting fact: after the “freeze” of work at all nuclear power plants and a whole series of technical inspections throughout the country in connection with the Fukushima disaster, the Ohi nuclear power plant was the first to resume operation.

6. NPP Paluel (France) – 5320 MW

Although this “French woman” is located on the shore of a reservoir, like other nuclear power plants, it still has one characteristic feature. Not far from the nuclear power plant is the commune of Paluel (the question of what the station got its name from immediately disappears). The fact is that all the residents of this commune are part-time workers of the nuclear power plant (there are about 1,200 people). A sort of communist approach to the problem of employment.

5. Gravelines NPP (France) – 5460 MW

Gravelines is the most powerful nuclear power plant in France. It is located on the shores of the North Sea, the waters of which are used to cool nuclear reactors. France is actively developing its scientific and technical potential in the nuclear field and has a large number of nuclear power plants on its territory, which together have more than fifty nuclear reactors.

4. Hanul Nuclear Power Plant (South Korea) – 5900 MW

Hanul is not the only nuclear power plant on the territory South Korea with a capacity of 5900 MW: the Korean “arsenal” also has the Hanbit station. The question arises, why exactly Hanul occupies fourth place in our rating? The fact is that in the next 5 years, leading Korean specialists in the field of nuclear energy plan to “accelerate” Hanul to a record 8,700 MW. Perhaps a new leader will soon top our rating.

3. Zaporozhye NPP (Ukraine) – 6000 MW

Having started its work in 1993, Zaporozhye NPP became the most powerful station in the entire former Soviet space. Today it is the third nuclear power plant in the world and the first in Europe in terms of power.

Interesting fact: The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was built in close proximity to the city of Energodar. With the start of construction, a powerful flow of investment poured into the city, and the region as a whole received an economic boost, which made it possible to develop the social and industrial spheres at a high level.

2. Bruce NPP (Canada) – 6232 MW

Perhaps the most powerful and largest nuclear power plant in terms of size in all of Canada and the entire North American continent. The Bruce Nuclear Power Plant is distinguished by the scale of its area - no less than 932 hectares of land. It has as many as 8 powerful nuclear reactors in its arsenal, which brings “Bruce” to second place in our rating. Until the beginning of the 2000s, not a single nuclear power plant could surpass the Zaporozhye NPP in terms of its performance, but Canadian engineers succeeded. Another feature of the station is its “hedonic” location on the shores of picturesque Lake Huron.

1. Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP (Japan) – 8212 MW

Even the 2007 earthquake, after which the power in nuclear reactors had to be reduced, did not prevent this energy giant from maintaining world leadership. The maximum capacity of the nuclear power plant is 8212 MW, now its potential has been realized only at 7965 MW. Today it is the most powerful nuclear power plant in the world.

Despite the ambiguous attitude towards nuclear power plants (which is quite justified by many objective reasons), no one will argue that this is the most environmentally friendly production of all existing ones: there is practically no waste from the activities of nuclear power plants. In turn, responsibility for safety lies on the shoulders of engineers. Literacy in design and construction - and the nuclear industry will have no enemies left.