Installed nuclear power plant capacity
initially rose relatively quickly, rising from less than 1 gigawatt (GW) in
1960 to 100 GW in the late 1970s, and 300 GW in the late 1980s. Since the late
1980s worldwide capacity has risen much more slowly, reaching 366 GW in 2005.
Between around 1970 and 1990, more than 50 GW of capacity was under
construction (peaking at over 150 GW in the late 70s and early 80s) — in 2005,
around 25 GW of new capacity was planned. More than two-thirds of all nuclear
plants ordered after January 1970 were eventually cancelled. A total of 63
nuclear units were canceled in the USA between 1975 and 1980.
During the 1970s and 1980s rising economic
costs (related to extended construction times largely due to regulatory changes
and pressure-group litigation) and falling fossil fuel prices madenuclear
power plants then under construction less attractive. In the 1980s
(U.S.) and 1990s (Europe), flat load growth and electricity liberalization also
made the addition of large new baseload capacity unattractive.
The 1973 oil crisis had a significant
effect on countries, such as France and Japan, which had relied more heavily on
oil for electric generation (39% and 73% respectively) to invest in nuclear
power. Today, nuclear power supplies about 80% and 30% of the
electricity in those countries, respectively.
A general movement against nuclear
power arose during the last third of the 20th century, based on the
fear of a possible nuclear accident as well as the history of accidents, fears
of radiation as well as the history of radiation of the public, nuclear
proliferation, and on the opposition to nuclear waste production, transport and
lack of any final storage plans. Perceived risks on the citizens' health and
safety, the 1979 accident at Three Mile Island and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster
played a part in stopping new plant construction in many countries, although
the public policy organization Brookings Institution suggests that new nuclear
units have not been ordered in the U.S. because of soft demand for electricity,
and cost overruns on nuclear plants due to regulatory issues and construction
delays.
Unlike the Three Mile Island accident, the
much more serious Chernobyl accident did not increase regulations affecting
Western reactors since the Chernobyl reactors were of the problematic RBMK
design only used in the Soviet Union, for example lacking "robust"
containment buildings. Many of these reactors are still in use today. However,
changes were made in both the reactors themselves (use of low enriched uranium)
and in the control system (prevention of disabling safety systems) to reduce
the possibility of a duplicate accident.
An international organization to promote
safety awareness and professional development on operators in nuclear
facilities was created: WANO; World Association of Nuclear Operators.
Opposition in Ireland, and Poland prevented
nuclear programs there, while Austria (1978), Sweden (1980) and Italy (1987)
(influenced by Chernobyl) voted in referendums to oppose or phase out nuclear
power plant. In July 2009, the Italian Parliament passed a law that
canceled the results of an earlier referendum and allowed the immediate start
of the Italian nuclear program.