Annuals Quote by Daniel Yergin
![“In the mid-1980s, operating problems took [nuclear] plants off-line so often that, on an annual basis, they operated at only about 55 percent of their rated total generating capacity. Today, as a result of several decades of experience and an intense focus on performance ... nuclear plants in the…” quote by Daniel Yergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f2b/daniel-yergin-15406_annuals_in-the-mid-1980s-operating-problems-took_1291720.jpg)
“In the mid-1980s, operating problems took [nuclear] plants off-line so often that, on an annual basis, they operated at only about 55 percent of their rated total generating capacity. Today, as a result of several decades of experience and an intense focus on performance ... nuclear plants in the United States operate at over 90 percent of capacity. That improvement in operating efficiently is so significant in its impact that it can almost be seen as a new source in electric power itself.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Quest for Power, 2011
U.S. nuclear plants have dramatically improved capacity factors, turning efficiency gains into a quasi‑new power source.
In simple terms: Nuclear efficiency rose from 55% to over 90%.
Key Takeaway
Leverage efficiency for energy security.
Themes
energy
technology
efficiency
Mood
analytical
optimistic
Type
technical
policy
When to use this quote
- policy planning
- investment decisions
- grid management
Key Concepts
capacity factor
nuclear power
grid reliability
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance efficiency with safety?
- What policies ensure sustainable nuclear growth?
A Different Perspective
High efficiency may mask safety or waste challenges.
