Editing Nuclear reactor (section)

====By generation====
* Generation I reactor (early prototypes such as [[Shippingport Atomic Power Station]], research reactors, non-commercial power producing reactors)
* [[Generation II reactor]] (most current [[nuclear power plant]]s, 1965–1996)
* [[Generation III reactor]] (evolutionary improvements of existing designs, 1996–2016)
* [[Generation III reactor#Lists of Generation III+ reactors|Generation III+ reactor]] (evolutionary development of Gen III reactors, offering improvements in safety over Gen III reactor designs, 2017–2021)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://analysis.nuclearenergyinsider.com/russia-completes-worlds-first-gen-iii-reactor-china-start-five-reactors-2017|title=Russia completes world's first Gen III+ reactor; China to start up five reactors in 2017|date=8 February 2017|website=Nuclear Energy Insider|access-date=10 July 2019|archive-date=13 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813174111/https://analysis.nuclearenergyinsider.com/russia-completes-worlds-first-gen-iii-reactor-china-start-five-reactors-2017|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Generation IV reactor]] (technologies still under development; unknown start date, see below)<ref name="gen-iv_wna-2020"/>
* Generation V reactor (designs which are theoretically possible, but which are not being actively considered or researched at present).
In 2003, the French [[Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique]] (CEA) was the first to refer to "Gen II" types in ''Nucleonics Week''.<ref>''Nucleonics Week'', Vol. 44, No. 39; p. 7, 25 September 2003 Quote: "Etienne Pochon, CEA director of nuclear industry support, outlined EPR's improved performance and enhanced safety features compared to the advanced Generation II designs on which it was based."</ref>

The first mention of "Gen III" was in 2000, in conjunction with the launch of the [[Generation IV International Forum]] (GIF) plans.

"Gen IV" was named in 2000, by the [[United States Department of Energy]] (DOE), for developing new plant types.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.euronuclear.org/info/generation-IV.htm |title=Generation IV |publisher=Euronuclear.org |access-date=18 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317125012/http://www.euronuclear.org/info/generation-IV.htm |archive-date=17 March 2011 }}</ref>