IEA: Nuclear Power on Strong Revival Worldwide

Fatih Birol, executive director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said that increased nuclear power production represents “a credible solution to the challenges of energy security, climate change, and competitiveness.”

In an interview with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, Birol noted that “since the accident in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011, interest in nuclear power around the world has dropped significantly.” However, the protracted energy transition and the scarcity of alternative energy sources have renewed interest in nuclear power, which is currently experiencing a “strong revival.”

In 2025, nuclear power generation will be the highest in history, up 5% from 2024. “At this time,” Birol said, “70 gigawatts of new nuclear power plants are under construction, the highest number in thirty years. In addition, small modular reactors (SMRs) are emerging, which we expect to be on the market by 2030. By 2040, their cost will be comparable to that of hydroelectric, wind farms, and large nuclear power plants.”

According to the IEA Director, SMRs are safer than traditional reactors: “They are easier to finance, faster to build, and produce less nuclear waste. In addition, many technology companies see them as an ideal option for providing uninterrupted power to data centers.”

Birol called on European governments to diversify energy sources: “We have to be realistic. We will still use liquefied natural gas, but the strategic goal should be to transition to renewable energy, primarily nuclear, which will allow us to protect traditional industries that are fundamental to jobs and the economy.”

In Germany, Alice Weidel, leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, said that if the party, for which about 23% of German voters intend to vote, wins the February 23 general election, it will be “the end of the energy transition” and “Germany’s exit from the European Union’s climate policy”: “Of course we will restart existing nuclear power plants and invest in new-generation reactors fit for the future,” Weidel said in full agreement with Birol’s statements.

Many countries around the world have realized that wind and solar energy cannot meet the growing needs of modern industry. From China to Africa, Vietnam to India, Kazakhstan, and Serbia, new nuclear power plants are being built, many of them the brainchild of the Russian state agency Rosatom.