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We need more nuclear
Executive summary
Global momentum for nuclear is real: the IEA says nuclear generation will hit a record in 2025 and global generation is forecast to grow ~3% annually through 2026, driven by restarts, uprates and new builds in China, India and elsewhere [1] [2]. Major policy, finance and technology shifts — from inflows of private capital to interest in small modular reactors (SMRs) — are creating opportunities, but deployment will require large, sustained investments and regulatory work [1] [3].
1. The comeback: record output and why it matters
The International Energy Agency (IEA) and industry reporting both frame 2025 as a turning point: nuclear is on track to generate a record level of electricity this year thanks to increased output from France, restarts in Japan, uprates at existing plants, and new reactors in China, India and South Korea [1] [4]. That matters because nuclear already supplies just under 10% of global electricity and offers high capacity factors — a reliability argument highlighted by analysts and policy briefs as central to grid stability and decarbonization [1] [5].
2. Where growth is coming from: countries and technologies
Most near‑term additions are clustered in China and India, with China alone supplying a substantial share of reactors under construction; industry forecasts point to dozens of GW coming online by mid‑decade [4] [2]. Meanwhile, interest in SMRs and advanced designs is growing — the IEA and IAEA spotlight SMRs as a significant contributor in higher‑growth scenarios and as a tool for non‑electric applications, attracting private and public investment [1] [3].
3. Money matters: investment scale and policy levers
The IEA warns that a rapid growth pathway requires a doubling of annual nuclear investment to roughly USD 120 billion by 2030, and that rollout cannot rely solely on public funds [1]. U.S. analysis underscores the role of tax credits and legislation — for example, the Inflation Reduction Act’s provisions are described as pivotal to U.S. nuclear prospects — meaning policy design will shape how much private capital follows [5].
4. Practical routes to more power: extend, uprate, reuse
A pragmatic path to more nuclear output highlighted in industry and technology reporting is maximizing existing assets: license extensions, uprates, and even reviving recently closed plants can raise near‑term generation without building all new reactors from scratch [6]. This approach reduces time and financing hurdles compared with many first‑of‑a‑kind projects [6].
5. The tech sector, data centers and new demand drivers
Tech giants and data center operators are increasingly interested in long‑duration, firm clean power to meet AI and cloud needs; industry pieces and trade observers note this corporate demand as an emerging financing and offtake driver for advanced reactors and SMRs [7] [8]. That creates new commercial pathways but also concentrates influence among large private buyers [7].
6. Risks and constraints the upbeat coverage flags
Reporting stresses that momentum is not guaranteed: advanced reactor commercialization is at a fragile stage where "the next four years are make or break" for many projects, and supply chain, regulatory and public‑acceptance hurdles persist [6] [2]. The IEA specifically highlights that policy, regulations and financing must evolve to realize the “new era” scenario and that scale-up needs sustained investment [1].
7. Competing framings: industry optimism vs cautious analysts
Industry groups and events emphasize “extraordinary momentum” and job and clean‑energy narratives [9] [10], while independent analysis voices caution: some experts point to the enormous upfront costs, long lead times, and the need for supportive market structures and tax incentives to make projects bankable [1] [5]. Both perspectives converge on one point: nuclear can play a major role only if policy, finance and technology deployment align.
8. What “We need more nuclear” would require in practice
Scaling nuclear significantly would mean a mix of near‑term measures (license extensions, uprates, restarting mothballed units) and long‑term commitments (major public and private investment, regulatory reform, cross‑border supply chains for new builds, and broader SMR commercialization) — precisely the package the IEA says is necessary to sustain growth [1] [3]. Available sources do not mention a single quick fix that delivers rapid multi‑GW expansion without those elements [1] [3].
9. Bottom line for policymakers and advocates
If the goal is materially more nuclear power, the evidence in IEA/IAEA and sector reporting is clear: commit capital, modernize regulation, incentivize first‑of‑a‑kind projects and leverage existing plants — otherwise the current momentum may slow once initial projects face cost or permitting obstacles [1] [3]. Sources show optimism is justified but conditional on decisive, sustained action from governments and investors [1].