Can you compare and contrast nuclear energy use in the US and France?

Answer 1

In France they started out with gas cooled natural uranium reactors similar to the UK Magnox design but these are now obsolete and all shutdown. The designs since then have all been of the PWR type, and have gradually evolved into the latest Areva design which it looks will be built in the UK. Nuclear generation is now by far the largest component in French electricity, at about 75 percent. In the US all operating stations use either PWR or BWR designs, there are 104 total operating reactors giving about 20 percent of US electricity. Thus there seems much more scope for increasing nuclear in the US than in France, which would seem to have reached nuclear saturation, though they may have scope to export more to neighbouring countries.

Answer 2

The US relies more on nuclear energy for electricity generation compared to France. While France generates about 70% of its electricity from nuclear power plants, the US only generates around 20%. Both countries have a mix of public and private ownership of nuclear power plants, but France has a more centralized approach due to its state-owned utility company. Additionally, France has a stronger emphasis on reprocessing and recycling nuclear waste, while the US primarily stores its nuclear waste in temporary facilities.