Nuclear power operates more consistently than any other US electricity source, according to Department of Energy data. In 2024, nuclear plants ran at a capacity factor above 92 percent, meaning they produced near maximum output more than 92 percent of the time. That reliability far exceeds other sources. Natural gas plants operated near 59.9 percent, coal near 42.36 percent, wind near 34.3 percent, and solar near 23.4 percent.

The gap explains why a relatively modest amount of nuclear capacity delivers an outsized share of electricity. The nation roughly 97 gigawatts of nuclear capacity generates more power annually than far larger nameplate totals of solar, because solar operates only about a quarter of the time. The figures underscore nuclear role as a baseload source that runs around the clock regardless of weather.

With 94 licensed reactors supplying close to 20 percent of US electricity, the fleet provides steady output that grid operators can count on during peak demand. As electricity needs rise, driven in part by data centers, the reliability advantage has renewed interest in extending plant lifespans, restarting idled reactors, and building new capacity. The data frames nuclear as a high availability source whose value lies in consistent, continuous generation.

Source: US Department of Energy - https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/what-generation-capacity