As the world marks the International Day of Clean Energy in 2025, global momentum behind nuclear energy continues to build, with the clean power source set to generate record levels of electricity in the year ahead.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), a new era for nuclear energy beckons, as demand for clean and secure electricity grows around the world. The number of new projects, policies and investments are increasing, including in technological advances such as small modular reactors (SMRs).
"This news that the world breached 1.5C warming in 2024 comes as demand for energy is growing. One after another, technology companies looking for reliable low-carbon electricity to power AI and data centres are turning to nuclear energy, both in the form of traditional large reactors and SMRs," said the Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi this month in an article in La Revue de l'Énergie.
Nuclear energy's increasing momentum could be seen at COP28, where the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement called for the acceleration of nuclear and other low-emission technologies to help achieve deep decarbonization. Another key moment at the climate conference in Dubai was when more than 20 countries launched a declaration to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Last year at COP29 in Baku, Azerjaijan, a further six countries joined the call.
With its capacity to deliver low carbon electricity consistently 24/7, nuclear power has prevented around 70 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO2 emissions over the past five decades and continues to avoid more than 1 Gt CO2 annually, according to IAEA's "Climate Change and Nuclear Power 2022" report.
Dispatchable energy
Unlike wind and solar, nuclear power plants and hydropower offer dispatchable energy, meaning they are able to adjust their output to meet electricity demand. Additionally, the expanded use of nuclear power for non-electric applications, including district heating, hydrogen production, desalination and heat for industrial processes, offers further options to reduce emissions.
To support this increasing nuclear energy demand, the IAEA is actively assisting countries by providing technical expertise and capacity building to help them establish or expand nuclear power plants.
Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Reviews (INIR) are an example where the IAEA assists countries to assess the status of their national infrastructure as they embark on establishing nuclear power plants. INIR missions enable countries to engage in discussions and receive guidance from experts about recommendations and best practices in nuclear power infrastructure development.
These missions ensure that the infrastructure necessary for the safe, secure and sustainable use of nuclear power is developed and implemented in a responsible and orderly manner.
In 2009, the IAEA conducted the first INIR Mission to a country initiating the use of nuclear power. Since then, INIR missions have been hosted by various states including the United Arab Emirates, that has successfully established the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. This year, it is expected to supply around 25 per cent of the UAE's electricity, up from its current contribution of 20 per cent, reducing the country's carbon emissions by 22 million tonnes annually.
Similarly, countries like Sweden, France and Finland have utilized nuclear energy combined with hydro and renewables to largely decarbonize their electricity production. France has an extremely low level of CO2 emissions from electricity generation, since over 90 per cent of its electricity is from low-carbon sources, 70 per cent of that from nuclear power. And 94 percent of Sweden's electricity comes from low carbon sources in Sweden with more than a third coming from nuclear, according to the IAE.
Newcomer countries
The IAEA is also supporting newcomer countries and developing countries in their transition to nuclear energy, with trainings, technical assistance, and technology transfer of tools and methodologies to help them evaluate the role of different technologies in meeting their future energy needs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
"A few years ago, discussions might have been about phasing out nuclear energy. Today, at the World Economic Forum, we're on the road to tripling nuclear capacity. This shows a shift in how nuclear energy is increasingly seen as essential for net-zero and energy transition," said Mr Grossi this week at the first ever public session on nuclear energy at the World Economic forum Annual Meeting in Davos.
The IAEA's latest projections indicate that world nuclear capacity will increase 2.5 times the current capacity by 2050. At present, 31 countries operate power plants, with 419 reactors in operation, a combined electrical capacity of 378.1 gigawatt GW, producing about 10 per cent of the world's electricity. Additionally, over 62 reactors are currently under construction, highlighting the growing adoption of nuclear energy worldwide.
"I am confident 2025 will see commitments translated into concrete projects. Nuclear energy is still providing the world with a quarter of its low-carbon power and supporting the roll out of intermittent renewables like solar and wind. In future we will see even more nuclear deliver the clean, reliable, and secure power the world needs. As always, IAEA will be there to assist countries in making it happen," said Mr Grossi.
