Timeline · 1976

The world's nuclear fleet in 1976

In 1976, 179 nuclear reactors were operating in 19 countries, 79 GWe net, with 190 under construction. 6 of those units are not included in the net capacity because no net figure has been published for them.

Compared with 1975, the operating fleet grew by 10 reactors. 19 reactors were connected to the grid that year, 14,581 MWe, mostly in United States (8), Germany (3) and United Kingdom (3). 3 units were permanently shut down, 85 MWe. Armenia connected its first nuclear reactor in 1976. The countries with the most operating capacity were United States (41,592 MWe), Japan (7,049 MWe) and United Kingdom (5,689 MWe).

Connected to the grid in 1976

UnitCountryTypeModelMWe
Armenian 1Armenia ArmeniaPWRV-270376
Bruce A2Canada CanadaPHWRCANDU 791817
Biblis BGermany GermanyPWRunknown1,240
BrunsbuettelGermany GermanyBWRKWU BWR, '69 design line (BWR-69)771
Neckarwestheim 1Germany GermanyPWRSiemens-KWU (KWU)785
Mihama 3Japan JapanPWRMitsubishi 3-loop (M 3LP)780
Bilibino 4Russia RussiaLWGREGP-611
Kursk 1-1Russia RussiaLWGRRBMK-1000925
Hinkley Point B1United Kingdom United KingdomGCRAGR485
Hinkley Point B2United Kingdom United KingdomGCRAGR480
Hunterston B1United Kingdom United KingdomGCRAGR490
Beaver Valley 1United States United StatesPWRWestinghouse 3-loop (WH 3LP)908
Browns Ferry 3United States United StatesBWRGE BWR/4, Mark I containment (BWR-4 (Mark 1))1,210
Brunswick 1United States United StatesBWRGE BWR/4, Mark I containment (BWR-4 (Mark 1))938
Calvert Cliffs 2United States United StatesPWRCombustion Engineering 2-loop (CE 2LP)855
Fort St. VrainUnited States United StatesHTGRGeneral Atomics330
Indian Point 3United States United StatesPWRWestinghouse 4-loop (WH 4LP)1,030
Salem 1United States United StatesPWRWestinghouse 4-loop (WH 4LP)1,169
St. Lucie 1United States United StatesPWRCombustion Engineering 2-loop (CE 2LP)981

Shut down in 1976

UnitCountryTypeModelMWeGrid connection
Japan Power Demonstration ReactorJapan JapanBWRBWR-1121963
MH-1APanama PanamaPWRunknown101968
Humboldt BayUnited States United StatesBWRNatural-circulation BWR (Natural cir.)631963

Countries by operating capacity in 1976

#CountryReactorsMWeUnder construction
1United States United States5641,59262
2Japan Japan137,04910
3United Kingdom United Kingdom325,6898
4Germany Germany134,95017
5Russia Russia194,26110
6Sweden Sweden53,4445
7Canada Canada72,53810
8France France102,51921
9Belgium Belgium41,8622
10Switzerland Switzerland31,1032
11Spain Spain31,0675
12Bulgaria Bulgaria28162
13Italy Italy35631
14Netherlands Netherlands2537—
15India India34344
16Argentina Argentina13351
17Slovakia Slovakia1934
18Pakistan Pakistan190—
19Kazakhstan Kazakhstan152—
20Armenia Armenia002
21Brazil Brazil002
22Finland Finland004
23Hungary Hungary002
24Iran Iran001
25Mexico Mexico001
26Philippines Philippines00—
27Slovenia Slovenia001
28South Africa South Africa002
29South Korea South Korea001
30Taiwan Taiwan004
31Ukraine Ukraine006

Data: Global Energy Monitor (CC BY 4.0), IAEA PRIS 2025, Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons. Capacities in net MWe unless stated.

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