The power grid's workhorses

Nuclear plants typically have high capacity factors, meaning they're generating close to their maximum output most of the time. An informal cutoff for baseload power is a 70 per cent capacity factor.

Note: U.S. reactors have higher average capacity factors than those in most other countries, including Canada. According to the World Nuclear Association, the global average was 83% in 2024.
Matt McClearn / THE GLOBE AND MAIL Source: U.S. Department of Energy