Generations - The nuclear family comes of age

Nuclear power has been harnessed and developed into a major source of energy for the world for over 60 years. A total of 442 nuclear power generating plants are now in operation in 31 countries with an installed capacity of almost 370 GW of electricity. While continued research and technological improvements have resolved many weaknesses in the early generations of plant designs, newer generation designs are expected to be simpler, safer and more economical to build and operate. These designs are expected to operate safely and economically as well as answer the most difficult of the remaining challenges in nuclear power, i.e. waste management and proliferation risk.