In sharp contrast to multiple reporting of a potential 'nuclear revival', the atomic age is in the dusk rather than in the dawn. In order to keep the number of operating nuclear plants constant, roughly 80 reactors would have to be planned, built and started up over the next ten years - one every month and a half- and an additional 200 units over the following 10-year period - one every 18 days. With extremely long lead times of 10 years and more, it is practically impossible to maintain, let alone increase, the number of operating nuclear power plants over the next 20 years, unless operating lifetimes would be substantially increased beyond an average of 40 years.
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