There is a wide divergence of approaches to nuclear power.
Some countries, like Germany and Spain, are committed to phasing out nuclear power; others, like Britain, are considering which way to proceed. Several others, including Ukraine and Finland, are building new power plants.
FRANCE
Working nuclear reactors 59
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 11
Electricity from nuclear power 78%
France has been Europe's most enthusiastic devotee of nuclear power, constructing dozens of reactors since the 1970s oil crises spurred on its desire for energy independence.
It has become the world's biggest net exporter of electricity, and is also a major exporter of nuclear technology.
France began a public debate in 2003 on future energy policy, but the government seems committed. President Jacques Chirac has announced the fourth generation of nuclear reactors, using nuclear waste as a source of energy, while France will be the site for the international Iter experimental reactor.
UNITED KINGDOM
Working nuclear reactors 23
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 21
Electricity from nuclear power 20%
The UK was the first country to use nuclear energy to generate power for large-scale civilian use, opening its first plant in 1956.
The last new reactor was opened in 1995, and Britain has been steadily decommissioning its old plants, with many set to close in the next few years.
However, the government has recently prompted debate on whether new nuclear plants should form part of the UK's future energy policy, to help it meet ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets.
GERMANY
Working nuclear reactors 17
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 19
Electricity from nuclear power 32%
Germany, like Britain, has plans to close several plants in the coming years. All the reactors built in East Germany prior to reunification have been closed for safety reasons.
Under Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, whose coalition included the Green Party, the government decided to phase out nuclear power by 2020, and to close all reactors when they reached an average of 32 years old.
Nuclear energy proponents hoped the election of Angela Merkel as chancellor might bring about a rethink - but she has so far ruled out a change of policy.
SWEDEN
Working nuclear reactors 10
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 3
Electricity from nuclear power 52%
While a large proportion of Sweden's electricity is generated by hydro-electric power, Stockholm decided in the 1960s and 70s to increase nuclear capacity to reduce dependence on oil.
In 1980, amid heightened fears over nuclear power, Sweden decided to phase out nuclear power, though its closure programme has been delayed several times.
Sweden recently announced it hoped to wean itself off fossil fuels completely, without building more nuclear plants, by expanding its extensive renewables programme.
UKRAINE
Working nuclear reactors 15
New reactors planned/ under construction: 2
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 4
Electricity from nuclear power 51%
Ukraine's Chernobyl plant was the site of the largest nuclear accident in history in 1986, when an explosion blew the top off the site's number four reactor and sent a radioactive cloud across much of Europe.
Ukraine has remained committed to nuclear power, and is building two more reactors and planning as many as 11 more by 2030, as it seeks to reduce its dependence on energy from Russia.
ITALY
Working nuclear reactors 0
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 4
Electricity from domestic nuclear power 0%
Italy was an early pioneer of nuclear technology, and built four reactors, but these had all been shut down by 1990, following the Chernobyl disaster.
Italy is now the world's largest net importer of electricity, with more than 10% of its electricity coming from foreign-produced nuclear power.
LITHUANIA
Working nuclear reactors 1
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 1
Electricity from nuclear power 72%
Lithuania is second only to France in its dependence on nuclear power for its electricity.
It pledged to close its Ignalina plant - based on the same design as Chernobyl - by 2009 as part of its negotiations to join the European Union. But it has been seeking a delay to allow it to find other energy sources.
SPAIN
Working nuclear reactors 9
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 1
Electricity from nuclear power 23%
Spain imposed a moratorium on reactor-building in 1983, abandoning several construction projects. The Spanish prime minister has announced the country will phase out nuclear power in favour of renewables.
BULGARIA
Working nuclear reactors 4
Reactors decommissioned/ out of use 2
Electricity from nuclear power 42%
Concerns over safety standards led Bulgaria to close two of the six reactors at its Kozloduy plant, and it is due to close two more before it joins the EU in 2007.
However, Bulgaria is aiming to renegotiate the closure date, and the issue still hangs over Bulgaria's accession to the EU.
Bulgaria is also pressing ahead with a new plant at Belene on the Danube.
ROMANIA
Working nuclear reactors 1
New reactors planned/ under construction: 1
Electricity from nuclear power 10%
A tenth of Romania's electricity comes from its Cernavoda nuclear plant, where a second reactor is nearing completion.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Working nuclear reactors 6
Electricity from nuclear power 31%
The Czech Republic's site at Temelin has strained relations with nearby Austria, which opposes nuclear power, especially after various problems and safety scares before its launch.
Nonetheless, the country plans further reactors at Temelin, to replace its second site at Dukovany after 2020.
FINLAND
Working nuclear reactors 4
New reactors planned/ under construction: 1
Electricity from nuclear power 27%
In 2002 Finland's parliament voted to approve building a fifth nuclear power plant, to be in operation about 2009. The decision to expand nuclear power defied the general European trend for the past decade.
Sources: International Atomic Energy Agency, World Nuclear Association, International Nuclear Safety Center, European Nuclear Society
^ Back to top | BBC Sport Home | BBC Homepage | Contact us | Help | ©