The use of and demand for nuclear energy is on the rise globally, due in large part to the efforts to increase both clean energy and energy independence.
Countries in Europe, Africa, and South America are all making efforts to build next-generation reactors and increase the global nuclear fleet.
Want to learn more about what is going on with nuclear energy around the world? We’re asking the expert, Ted Jones, NEI’s Senior Director for National Security and International Programs.
Is there much international consensus around the use of nuclear energy?
Yes. And it's growing. You see it at COP, where nuclear energy is visible in ways that it never existed a few years ago. But also, at multilateral meetings such as the G7, and in other fora. Nuclear energy is increasingly a topic of discussion for achieving our climate security and energy security goals.
What is driving the increased global demand for nuclear?
The realization that renewables alone are not the fastest way to achieve our climate goals is probably the biggest factor. Dispatchable nuclear power, even at a higher marginal cost, is a cheaper way to create a clean energy system. Paired with renewables, nuclear energy can get us there faster and cheaper. And not just in the developed world where nuclear energy already operates, but in countries that are developing electricity infrastructure for the first time, it's also true there. So, you have this vastly expanding interest as countries look to develop a sustainable energy infrastructure. Also, energy security is a huge factor. Nuclear energy has fuel on site, fuel available from a diversity of sources, and it's a low component of cost. So, it creates affordable electricity that's also reliable for growing economies.
Where are we seeing the most demand for nuclear internationally?
Central and Eastern Europe is probably the hottest market. Here, you've got countries that have energy intensive economies. They rely on coal for a lot of their power generation. And they were suspicious of relying on Russian natural gas even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine. So, to comply with EU requirements to retire coal, they are developing renewables, but they are very much believers in nuclear energy. These countries aren't just interested in nuclear; they're buying it. And in the years to come, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and others are looking to buy plants that are already in operation. Large plants, but they're also interested in smaller designs.
Where else is interest in nuclear rising and why?
It's rising globally for all the same reasons: climate security, energy security, economic vitality. And it's not just the large plants that are of interest, but especially the smaller designs that are just now coming to the market. These designs, because they're simpler to license, simpler to build, simpler to operate, have an appeal in countries that never dreamed of building a gigawatt scale plant. Countries in Asia, Africa, and South America are making active plans to build SMRs. And in the end, this is going to tremendously expand the global nuclear fleet.
Can nuclear energy provide energy independence to nations who might be reliant on others for things like gas or oil?
Yes, but it depends on the supplier. Russia and China have designated nuclear exports as strategic priority for the foreign policy it brings them. The U.S., by contrast, has proceeded more on the basis of shared values and interest. And while China and Russia have used their nuclear exports to create jobs for themselves, the U.S. has helped stand up nuclear industries in their own right. This has made the United States and our partners more energy secure.
How can we make sure countries who have unreliable energy sources are able to get access to nuclear?
Well, for the U.S. to be the supplier, we first need to demonstrate our reactors here and that includes the smaller designs that we've discussed. We also need to be more competitive in international markets. We need better market access, we need better financing tools, especially for early works, and we need whole-of-government support to compete against not companies, but countries, that are our rivals.
Is there a recent success story in terms of U.S. competitiveness and nuclear exports?
I would say Poland is the best example. There you saw the U.S. government step up, and under a government-to-government agreement, organize the trade support to supply three large reactors by Westinghouse to Poland. And this really closes the gap between the U.S. and some of the foreign nations that are competitors. And it's a model that has been sought by other markets, including Bulgaria, Romania and others. And we'd like to see more of those.
