Director General's Conclusions

The new record of 2667 TWh generated from nuclear energy in 2024 is a testament to what nuclear power can deliver. However, to meet our global energy and climate goals, it is a record that needs to be broken again and again, every year, by increasingly larger amounts.

There are two actions that would deliver this growth. The first is to maximise the contribution of the existing fleet, achieving high standards of performance and extending operations. The second is rapidly accelerate the pace of new build.

Since 2012, nuclear generation has increased by an average of 25 TWh each year. To double nuclear output by 2050 we will need an average increase of 100 TWh every year, and 200 TWh annually to triple it.

While that may seem daunting, it is not unprecedented. The world saw nuclear generation grow by more than 100 TWh annually throughout much of the 1980s, with a remarkable 213 TWh added in 1985.

To achieve an increase in generation of 200 TWh would require around 28 GWe of new nuclear capacity to be brought online. However, only around 11 GWe per year is expected to come online over the next five years. If we are to fulfil the goals set by 31 governments to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050, we must commence a new era of accelerated nuclear construction.

With the fastest construction times for new reactors currently being around five years, the decisions we make today will shape the world’s energy systems of the 2030s and beyond. That is why now is the time for the nuclear industry, governments, the finance community and other major stakeholders to work together to implement expansive new nuclear build programmes.

In March 2025 a new coalition of major energy users – including Amazon, Google, Meta, Dow and Allseas – added their voices to the call to triple nuclear capacity. Their support sends a clear message: the calls for a major expansion of nuclear capacity are coming not just from policymakers and energy-hungry countries, but from the potential customers who wish to take advantage of nuclear’s unique offer.

The new record set for nuclear generation marks a rallying point and a call to action. The challenge ahead is immense, but so is the opportunity. With the backing of bold global industry leaders, forward-thinking governments, and an increasingly engaged public, the path to tripling nuclear capacity is not only achievable; it is necessary. This is our chance to build a cleaner, more secure energy future for everyone everywhere, powered by reliable, low-carbon nuclear energy.

Sama Bilbao y León
Director General
World Nuclear Association

September 2025