Nuclear Power in the World Today 2024. Current and Future Generation and Business Development

Key ideas:

a) Nuclear energy now provides about 9% only of the world's electricity from about 440 Nuclear Reactors running.

b) Energy production from coal accounts for approximately 36% followed by NG with 22%. This reflects a natural reduction process resulting from the closure and obsolescence of currently operational coal plants and the extended operation of these kinds of plants in developing countries where the regulations are lax.

c) Nuclear is the world's second-largest source of low-carbon power.

Nuclear technology utilizes the energy generated by splitting the atoms of particular elements. It was first developed in the 1940s, and during WWII, research focused mostly on bomb manufacture. In the 1950s, the focus switched to the peaceful application of nuclear fission, particularly for power generation.

Civil nuclear power has around 20,000 reactor years of operating experience, and nuclear power plants are operational in 31 countries (including Taiwan) worldwide. Indeed, many more countries, particularly in Europe, rely on nuclear power to some extent via regional transmission systems.

When the commercial nuclear business began in the 1960s, the East and West industries were clearly separated. Today, the nuclear business is distinguished by worldwide trade. A reactor under development in Asia today might have components from South Korea, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Russia, and other countries. Similarly, uranium from Australia or Namibia may end up in a UAE reactor after being converted in France, enriched in the Netherlands, deconverted in the United Kingdom, and manufactured in South Korea.

Nuclear technology has several applications beyond providing low-carbon energy. It aids doctors in diagnosing and treating patients, controls disease spread, and powers our most ambitious space exploration endeavours. These diverse applications place nuclear technologies at the center of the global endeavour to achieve sustainable development.

In these conditions, today the nuclear production is distributed, as follows, according to the data provided by the UAEA PRIS:

There is a strong centralization in Europe and North America ????????, while Asia, particularly China ????, is leading in the development of new nuclear reactors ??.

We are looking forward to the future with optimism and anticipation, the global panorama painted is totally different with the exception of UK showing new developments betting on Nuclear Reactors:

against to a total number of operable reactor capacity of:

FUTURE REQUIREMENTS

Need for new generating capacity

There is an obvious need for new generating capacity around the world, both to replace obsolete fossil fuel units, particularly coal-fired ones that produce substantial volumes of carbon dioxide and to satisfy rising energy demand in many nations. In 2022, fossil fuels accounted for 61% of all energy generation. Despite substantial support and growth in intermittent renewable electricity sources in recent years, the fossil fuel contribution to power generation has remained relatively stable over the last 15 years (66.5% in 2005).

The OECD International Energy Agency offers annual energy-related scenarios. In its World Energy Outlook 20231, the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario (NZE) "maps out a way to achieve a 1.5°C stablization in the rise of global average temperatures, alongside universal access to modern energy by 2030." The NZE in WEO 2023 forecasts nuclear capacity increasing to 916 GWe by 2050.

Other Nuclear Reactors (Naval, Medicare and Militar Use)

In addition to commercial nuclear power facilities, there are around 220 research reactors in operation across 50 countries, with more under construction. In addition to research and training, several of these reactors produce medicinal and industrial isotopes.

Reactors are primarily used for marine propulsion in major navies, where they have played an essential role for five decades in powering submarines and large surface vessels. Over 160 ships, predominantly submarines, are powered by approximately 200 nuclear reactors, and over 13,000 reactor years of experience have been obtained with marine reactors. Russia and the United States have retired many Cold War-era nuclear submarines.

Russia also has a fleet of big nuclear-powered icebreakers, with more under construction. In addition, it connected a floating nuclear power station with two 32 MWe reactors to the grid in the isolated arctic location of Pevek. The reactors are adapted from ones that power icebreakers.

Other Nuclear Energy Use

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/radioisotopes-research/radioisotopes-in-food-agriculture

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/overview/the-many-uses-of-nuclear-technology#InsectControl

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/radioisotopes-research/radioisotopes-in-consumer-products

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/radioisotopes-research/radioisotopes-in-food-agriculture

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/transport/nuclear-powered-ships

https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/non-power-nuclear-applications/transport/transport-and-the-hydrogen-economy

REFERENCES:

Uses of Nuclear Technology (Word Nuclear Association)

Nuclear Reactor Database (World Nuclear Association)

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