World Nuclear Outlook Report Preview 2025

Global nuclear capacity could reach 1428 GWe by 2050, exceeding the 1200 GWe target set in the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy. This study compiles national government targets and goals for nuclear capacity for 2050 and assesses them alongside plans for continued and extended operation of existing reactors, completion of those under construction, and realization of planned and proposed projects.

Economic development, a growing global population and increased electrification of the energy sector will drive an increase in global electricity demand in the coming years. At the same time, commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and concerns over security of supply are leading to a switch away from fossil fuels and towards clean and more secure energy sources, including nuclear.

Governments from 31 nations have signed the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy, which supports a global goal of tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050, compared to 2020. This would mean global nuclear capacity would have to expand to around 1200 GWe by 2050.

This report presents the global development and outlook for nuclear energy. It reviews the goals and targets set by national governments for future nuclear capacity. If all the announced national targets for new nuclear capacity by 2050 were met, the total global nuclear capacity in that year would be 1363 GWe, exceeding the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy goal by more than 100 GWe. When combined with additional capacity from existing operable[1], reactors, those under construction, and planned and proposed projects that are not covered by government targets the total capacity would be 1428 GWe.

The report also considers how these targets could be met. For each country there is an assessment of the potential contribution of reactors in operation today, including through the extension of operating lifetimes to 60 or 80 years for those reactors that would otherwise shut down before 2050. The report also considers the potential contribution of reactors under construction, as well as those that are planned and proposed. An additional category – 'potential' – is used for reactors that have been announced, but do not meet the Association's criteria to be classed as either planned or proposed. It then identifies what further capacity would be needed to meet national targets for nuclear capacity.

When all national targets are considered alongside the potential contribution of existing reactors, reactors under construction, and those planned, proposed and potential, the total capacity that would be reached in 2050 is 1428 GWe. This total is higher than that of national nuclear capacity targets because not every government with reactors in those categories has set a national goal.

Figure P1.1 Assessment of global nuclear capacity (GWe) up to 2050

This report assesses the targets and plans for nuclear capacity announced by more than 50 countries. The majority of the global capacity projected for 2050 is heavily dependent on the actions of a small number of countries, with China and the USA’s national goals responsible for more than half of the total global nuclear capacity in 2050. When the capacities projected for France, India, and Russia are added to those of China and the USA, these five countries would reach almost 1000 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2050.

Table P1.1 Summary of capacities by category in 2050

For some countries, such as China, established nuclear programmes provide a foundation on which the acceleration in nuclear construction can be based. Construction of all reactors currently planned and proposed for China would deliver almost all its national target. For other countries, including the USA, substantial action is needed to ramp up build rates to achieve its national goal.

Table P1.2 Capacity addition rates needed to meet global capacity targets

Meeting these targets presents considerable challenges. Construction rates would need to accelerate, with new connection rates in 2050 being more than four times that required in 2030 and double the historic peak connection rates achieved in the mid-1980s.

Achieving these goals would require action from governments and the nuclear industry. It would also require regulatory reform, and channelling large amounts of affordable financing to the entire nuclear value chain. Accelerated development will be required for the deployment of SMRs and advanced reactor technologies. To support deployment of the reactors, there would need to be strengthened and expanded supply chains and workforce. Significant investment and advances in the nuclear fuel cycle would also be needed, from mining to fuel fabrication, to provide the fuel required to meet the needs of the expanded global nuclear capacity.

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