Nuclear power generation to reach record high next year, IEA forecasts

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Financial Times or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The International Energy Agency forecasts that global nuclear power generation will reach a record high by next year, signaling a resurgence for nuclear technology and a significant contribution to reducing carbon dioxide emissions
• The growth is driven by new reactors in China and India, and the reactivation of plants in France

🔭 The context: This resurgence marks a revival for nuclear power following setbacks after the 2011 Fukushima disaster
• It aligns with the global push to cut carbon emissions and addresses energy security concerns intensified by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The increase in nuclear power, alongside the rapid growth of renewables like wind and solar, is shifting the electricity system away from fossil fuels
• This trend is key to reducing the power sector's carbon dioxide emissions, which are currently the highest of any sector in the world economy

⏭️ What's next: The focus of nuclear growth is expected to be in China and India, contributing significantly to the global electricity supply shift
• The challenge remains to balance nuclear expansion with safety concerns and to manage construction delays, particularly in Europe and the US

💬 One quote: "This is largely thanks to the huge momentum behind renewables, with ever cheaper solar leading the way, and support from the important comeback of nuclear power, whose generation is set to reach a historic high by 2025" (Fatih Birol, IEA executive director)

📈 One stat: Nuclear power output is expected to rise about 3% this year and next to 2,915TWh, surpassing the previous peak of 2,809TWh in 2021

Click for more news covering the latest on energy