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ENERGY

The latest developments on the energy front Edited by: Giannis Theodoropoulos

WORLD NUCLEAR CAPACITY TO
INCREASE 2.5 TIMES BY 2050
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
has revised up its annual projections for the
expansion of nuclear power for a fourth succes-
sive year. World nuclear capacity is now projected
to increase by 2.5 times the current capacity by
2050, in the IAEA’s high case scenario, includ-
ing a significant contribution from small modular
reactors (SMRs).
The increased projections published in Energy,
Electricity and Nuclear Power Estimates for the
Period up to 2050, align with the global consen-
sus on the need to accelerate the deployment of
nuclear energy. At the United Nations Climate
Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai last year,
nuclear power was included for the first time in
the Global Stocktake, which called for accelerat-
ing the deployment of low-emission technologies,
including nuclear energy, to help achieve deep
and rapid decarbonisation.
At the end of 2023, 413 nuclear power reactors
were operational, with a global capacity of 371.5
GW(e). In the high case scenario of the new IAEA
outlook, nuclear electrical generating capacity is
projected to increase to 950 gigawatts by 2050.
In this case, global capacity in 2050 would be
slightly more than 2.5 times what it was in 2023.
In the low-case projection, capacity rises 40% to
514 gigawatts. Small modular reactors, or SMRs, ing nuclear power plants. One of the most cost-ef-
account for about one quarter of the capacity fective sources of low-emission electricity is the
added in the high case and for 6% in the low case lifetime extension of existing nuclear reactors,
scenario. the publication states. In the high case scenario,
All operating reactors, potential lifetime exten- it is assumed that the operating lifetimes of most
sions, possible power uprates, planned shutdowns, nuclear power reactors scheduled for retirement
and expected construction projects in the next few will be extended.
decades were considered in the estimates. Around
30 newcomer countries are either considering or EU: RENEWABLE ENERGY GENERATION
moving forward with plans to introduce nuclear BREAKING NEW CAPACITY RECORDS
power into their energy mix, while other countries The European Commission has published the
are expanding and extending the lifetimes of exist- State of the Energy Union Report 2024, which

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