Nuclear power capacity set to triple by 2060, IAEA chief predicts

Rafael Grossi, director-general of the IAEA, projected that nuclear power generation could more than triple over the next three and a half decades, underpinned by rising electrification demands and the computational needs of data centres. Speaking to the UN General Assembly in the agency's annual report, Grossi highlighted technology companies' increasing reliance on dependable, zero-carbon electricity sources as a key factor behind the anticipated surge.

Currently, more than 400 operational nuclear reactors across 30-plus countries generate approximately 10 percent of global electricity and account for roughly one-quarter of the world's low-carbon power supply, according to Grossi. The IAEA chief noted that over 60 new reactors are currently under construction worldwide, while future nuclear capacity projections have shifted markedly upward in recent assessments.

Grosspi emphasised that nuclear energy is increasingly viewed by nations as essential to strengthening energy security and meeting climate objectives. He positioned nuclear power as comparable to solar energy in its strategic importance while maintaining it is safer than alternative power generation methods, addressing persistent public concerns about the technology.

The projection underscores a significant global policy shift toward nuclear power as governments seek to balance growing electricity demand with decarbonisation commitments.