FROM THE EDITOR
Turning ambition into
action Nuclear is enjoying newfound tailwinds that are
accelerating development, but is it enough to have ambition without realising the goal of transformation?.
orld nuclear generation broke the latest record for production in 2025, reaching 2702TWh of low-carbon reliable power over the year and an increase of 35TWh on the previous year’s
figures. However, this impressive result is a reflection of improved load factors of above 83% across the aging reactor fleet rather than a gross increase in global nuclear generation capacity itself. Although four new reactors began operations in 2025 with two in China, and one each in India and Russia, shutdowns in Belgium, Russia and Taiwan saw only a nominal net increase in worldwide nameplate capacity. Nonetheless, according to the latest World Nuclear
Outlook Report from the World Nuclear Association (WNA), a groundswell of political support, institutional capacity and infrastructure readiness are improving across many countries laying the foundations for a resurgence in the nuclear contribution to the worldwide energy mix. Indeed, pans for new nuclear plants are accelerating as proposed developments move from planning to actual construction. New nuclear capacity already under construction increased to 82GWe last year as 11 new projects swelled numbers with north of 60 units being built at the end
of last year and those figures jumping once again this year. In its analysis, the WNA notes that bringing existing national nuclear targets, current projects and combined with the continued operation of the existing fleet would deliver a total of approximately 1457GWe of nuclear capacity by 2050. This exceeds even the tripling capacity goal established by around 40 nations by a stonking 200GWe. And, while the majority of the projected nuclear capacity does emerge from existing nuclear nations—1,303GWe is expected to comes from countries where nuclear reactors already operate—nuclear newcomers are increasingly making their presence felt, with WNA projecting a combined nuclear capacity of 154GWe to come from newcomer nations by 2050. Collectively these figures present a landscape
more positive than any seen in decades. However, as WNA observes, improving project readiness remains a key priority. They argue that more than 550GWe of the capacity required to meet existing government targets is yet to be realised even in terms of planned or proposed projects, let alone those actually under construction. Converting the raw ambition and collective positive mental attitude into real world kWh is where work is needed to bridge the looming realisation gap. The WNA report makes a number of recommendations, none of which are particularly new. It is no surprise to hear the industry calling for durable policy and investment frameworks to be established, a streamlining of regulation and strengthening supply chains among other critical requirements. They have been calling for all these things for years. But as the world anticipates a record El Nino, and
witnesses collapsing glaciers, wildfires and droughts with depressing regularity, the WNA does make a pertinent observation. While nuclear energy provides less then 10% of global electricity production it represents more than a fifth of the total worldwide low-carbon generation. Every nuclear kilowatt-hour makes a difference. So, when considering the right time to take action, what is wrong with now? ■
David Appleyard
www.neimagazine.com | October 2026 | 3
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