Large Nuclear Reactors
Put gigawatt-scale PWR designs on the same output scale as SMRs and microreactors.
The gigawatt class is a different project scale
Large reactors in this dataset are fixed-site Generation III / III+ designs above 1 GWe. Their core job is high-output grid generation; comparisons should distinguish net versus gross electrical ratings and individual-unit output versus total site capacity.
A single unit can exceed the total output of several SMR modules.
A very large unit has different grid, reserve and transmission implications from smaller modular units.
These designs have operating or construction experience that early microreactor concepts do not yet have.
Background: IAEA PRIS operating-reactor database. Reactor-specific claims below come from the source linked on each profile.
Compare the designs on the fields that actually differ.
This is a curated comparison, not a claim that the list is exhaustive.
| Design | MWe | Technology | Fuel | Heat | Transportable | Programme status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP1000 Westinghouse | 1110 | Pressurized water reactor | LWR fuel | No | No | Operating Operating / under construction / contracted |
| APR1400 KHNP / KEPCO | 1400 | Pressurized water reactor | LWR fuel | No | No | Operating Operating / under construction |
| EPR EDF / Framatome | 1650 | Pressurized water reactor | LWR fuel | No | No | Operating Operating / commissioning / construction |
Source, status and project context for each design.
AP1000
Generation III+ two-loop PWR with passive safety systems and nominal 1,110 MWe net output.
Operating / under construction / contractedLarge reactorAPR1400
Generation III large PWR developed in South Korea, with units operating and under construction.
Operating / under constructionLarge reactorEPR
Large Generation III PWR in the roughly 1,650 MWe class, designed for high-output baseload generation.
Operating / commissioning / constructionData snapshot verified against primary or authoritative sources: 21 September 2026. Reactor programmes and deployment schedules can change.