Nuclear Power in the 1970s
The oil crisis of 1973 accelerated nuclear construction worldwide. Many countries turned to nuclear as a solution to energy independence.
159
Reactors Started
17
Reactors Shutdown
109
GW Capacity Added
10
Countries Building
Top Countries
Year by Year
1970
6
1971
10
1972
19
1973
14
1974
21
1975
23
1976
14
1977
17
1978
16
1979
19
Reactors Commissioned
1970 (6 reactors)
1971 (10 reactors)
Dresden-3United States
BWR794 MW
H. B. Robinson-2United States
PWR700 MW
Millstone-1United States
BWR660 MW
MonticelloUnited States
BWR545 MW
Pickering-1Canada
PHWR542 MW
Pickering-2Canada
PHWR542 MW
Wylfa-1United Kingdom
GCR530 MW
St. Laurent-A2France
GCR515 MW
Santa Maria de GaronaSpain
BWR466 MW
Fukushima Daiichi-1Japan
BWR439 MW
1972 (19 reactors)
Maine YankeeUnited States
PWR825 MW
Surry-1United States
PWR788 MW
Turkey Point-3United States
PWR693 MW
Pilgrim-1United States
BWR655 MW
StadeGermany
PWR630 MW
Bugey-1France
GCR555 MW
Pickering-3Canada
PHWR542 MW
Wylfa-2United Kingdom
GCR540 MW
Vermont YankeeUnited States
BWR514 MW
Mihama-2Japan
PWR500 MW
+ 9 more reactors
1973 (14 reactors)
Zion-1United States
PWR1040 MW
Oconee-1United States
PWR887 MW
Quad Cities-1United States
BWR789 MW
Quad Cities-2United States
BWR789 MW
Surry-2United States
PWR788 MW
Turkey Point-4United States
PWR693 MW
Pickering-4Canada
PHWR542 MW
Prairie Island-1United States
PWR530 MW
BorsseleNetherlands
PWR495 MW
Fort Calhoun-1United States
PWR478 MW
+ 4 more reactors
1974 (21 reactors)
Browns Ferry-1United States
BWR1065 MW
Peach Bottom-2United States
BWR1065 MW
Peach Bottom-3United States
BWR1065 MW
Zion-2United States
PWR1040 MW
Leningrad-1Russia
LWGR1000 MW
Oconee-2United States
PWR887 MW
Oconee-3United States
PWR887 MW
Indian Point-2United States
PWR873 MW
Arkansas Nuclear One-1 (ANO-1)United States
PWR850 MW
Takahama-1Japan
PWR826 MW
+ 11 more reactors
1975 (23 reactors)
Biblis-AGermany
PWR1146 MW
Browns Ferry-2United States
BWR1065 MW
Donald Cook-1United States
PWR1030 MW
Tihange-1Belgium
PWR1009 MW
Ringhals-2Sweden
PWR963 MW
Rancho Seco-1United States
PWR918 MW
Millstone-2United States
PWR870 MW
Calvert Cliffs-1United States
PWR845 MW
Takahama-2Japan
PWR826 MW
Brunswick-2United States
BWR821 MW
+ 13 more reactors
1976 (14 reactors)
TrojanUnited States
PWR1130 MW
Leningrad-2Russia
LWGR1000 MW
Indian Point-3United States
PWR965 MW
Ringhals-1Sweden
BWR910 MW
Beaver Valley-1United States
PWR835 MW
St. Lucie-1United States
PWR830 MW
Mihama-3Japan
PWR826 MW
Neckarwestheim-1Germany
PWR805 MW
Fukushima Daiichi-3Japan
BWR760 MW
Hinkley Point-B2United Kingdom
GCR625 MW
+ 4 more reactors
1977 (17 reactors)
Biblis-BGermany
PWR1178 MW
Salem-1United States
PWR1090 MW
Browns Ferry-3United States
BWR1065 MW
Kursk-1Russia
LWGR1000 MW
Bruce-1Canada
PHWR868 MW
Calvert Cliffs-2United States
PWR845 MW
Bruce-2Canada
PHWR836 MW
Farley-1United States
PWR829 MW
Crystal River-3United States
PWR825 MW
Brunswick-1United States
BWR821 MW
+ 7 more reactors
1978 (16 reactors)
Donald Cook-2United States
PWR1100 MW
Tokai-2Japan
BWR1100 MW
Chernobyl-1Ukraine
LWGR925 MW
Fessenheim-1France
PWR920 MW
Fessenheim-2France
PWR920 MW
North Anna-1United States
PWR907 MW
Davis Besse-1United States
PWR906 MW
Three Mile Island-2United States
PWR906 MW
Bruce-3Canada
PHWR865 MW
Hamaoka-2Japan
BWR840 MW
+ 6 more reactors
Data source: IAEA PRIS database • Updated regularly