IRL: Record levels will reach nuclear power generation in 2025

Nuclear-produced electricity will reach record levels in 2025 and will represent at least 10% of world production, but its geographical centre is shifting towards China at the expense of old-time countries, such as the US or France, today announced (16.1.2025) the International Energy Agency ( ). Worldwide they are created with the construction of new nuclear installations capable of producing more than 70 gigawatts (GW), a quantity representing one of the highest levels of the last 30 years, says the IEA in a report entitled: “The road to a new era for nuclear energy”. CORVERSE The international organisation notes that nuclear power generation, which has the advantage of being “fixed and flexible”, increased to 2,742 tervats per hour (TWh) in 2023 and is expected to have reached 2,843 tervats per hour (TWh) in 2024. For 2025, it is expected to reach about 2,900 TWh. This rise is due to the increase in electricity uses, from industry and air conditioning to electric vehicles and data centres, in a context of rising artificial intelligence, the IEA stressed. In 2023, over 410 reactors operated in over 30 countries. “We are entering a new era for nuclear energy,” noted Fatih Birol, the director of the IEA in an interview with AFP. “This year, in 2025, nuclear power generation will be the most increased in history”. CORVERSE After years of degradation after the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan, caused by tsunami, China leads the recovery of this nuclear energy. Of the 52 reactors that began to be manufactured worldwide as of 2017, 25 are Chinese programs. On the contrary, countries such as the US or France are slowing down because of the high cost of developing nuclear power plants. “The global geography of the nuclear industry is changing”, stressed Fatih Birol, who recalled that “since 1970, the global nuclear industry has been leading the US and Europe”. In Europe, 35% of electricity came from nuclear power in the 1990s compared to less than 25% today, and in ten years this will be less than 15%. About the same applies to the United States. “There is a reduced performance of the nuclear industry in these countries,” explained the director of the ILO. “The plans delay an average of 7 years and the cost is 2.5 times higher than originally planned. In five years, China will overcome the US and the European Union and become the first global nuclear power.” Another issue is that the supply sources of the industry are concentrated in very few companies. Only four currently hold over 99% of enrichment potential: China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) (15%), Russian Rosatom (40%), Urenco (British-German-Dutch consortium, 33%) and French Orano (12%). “Russia alone represents 40% of global enrichment potential, which is a major challenge,” Birol noted. The nuclear industry is also evolving with the emergence of small articulated reactors (SMRs), which are intended to power industrial plants or produce heat. “The systems of small articulated reactors are developing around the world, China, Europe, the US, Canada,” Birol added. “In 15 years the cost of SMR will be competitive with the cost of offshore wind and large hydroelectric projects”. “One of the reasons why SMRs are increasing is linked to the energy needs of technological enterprises, especially those who have artificial intelligence and data centers”, which need electricity 24 hours a day, seven days a week, noted. The IEA proposes three scenarios for the next few years that all predict an increase in the nuclear park in the world. Production potential worldwide could increase by over 50% to reach nearly 650 GW by 2050, even doubling thanks to stronger interventions by the state or even exceeding 1,000 GW. Since 1971, nuclear power has allowed 72 gigatons (Gt) to be avoided CO2, preventing the use of coal, gas or oil, the Agency stressed. It also strengthened the energy security of many countries by reducing their dependence on fossil fuels. “The basic contribution to net zero emissions of gas will come from solar, wind, hydroelectric and geothermal energy,” Fatih Birol noted. “However it will also be important to use nuclear energy to have an economically efficient course” towards this goal, the head of the IEA concluded.