Energy is the engine of
economic development and prosperity.
Growing populations and expanding industries
need more and more of it.
But can energy power modern economies,
without heating the planet or polluting our air?
Nuclear Power in the 21st Century
Each nation has to choose
which types of energy to use,
depending on its natural resources,
industry, agriculture and lifestyles.
Nuclear power is one option.
It currently produces about 11% of the world’s electricity,
while releasing almost no greenhouse gases or air pollutants.
About 450 nuclear power reactors operate in 30 countries.
Another 60 or so reactors
are under construction, mostly in Asia.
About 30 other countries are considering
introducing nuclear power.
A nuclear power plant uses uranium as fuel.
Fuel pellets are combined into large fuel assemblies
and placed inside a reactor core.
In the reactor the uranium atoms split.
This releases energy used to boil water
and produce high pressure steam.
The steam turns a turbine connected to a generator
which produces electricity.
Nuclear power can help provide
reliable amounts of baseload electricity.
It can reduce a country’s dependence on imported fuel.
And it’s a low-carbon energy option.
Today, most electricity generation
is dependent on fossil fuels.
When burnt to produce electricity,
they pollute the air
and release greenhouse gases, such as CO2.
Nuclear power, by contrast, produces one-third
of the world’s low-carbon electricity.
Its CO2 emissions are extremely low,
comparable to hydro or wind power.
Nuclear power is not without its challenges.
The costs of construction are high.
But once built, plants are relatively inexpensive to operate
and can provide a steady supply of electricity for decades.
Like most forms of electricity generation,
nuclear power produces waste.
Methods for disposing of waste
with low levels of radioactivity are well established.
Highly radioactive waste,
such as spent nuclear fuel removed from reactors,
may be reprocessed to use again as fuel.
Or eventually, it will be permanently placed
in repositories deep underground,
isolated from people
and the environment.
Every country that uses nuclear technology
has a responsibility to do so safely and securely.
Following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan,
the IAEA made a valuable contribution
to improving safety globally.
Countries with nuclear power reassessed safety
and made improvements,
in light of lessons learnt from Fukushima.
The future may offer new possibilities for nuclear power.
Remarkable research and development is being done
on new generations of reactors.
The first advanced water-cooled reactors
have already begun operations,
and more than 30 are under construction.
These new designs enhance safety and reliability,
and are expected to improve economic competitiveness.
The development of pre-fabricated small modular reactors,
or SMRs, is well under way.
They may offer flexible power generation
for a wide range of users and applications.
Fast reactors have the potential to ensure
that energy resources will last thousands of years,
while reducing the volume and toxicity of waste.
Nuclear fusion would harness the reactions that power the sun.
It holds the promise of providing an inexhaustible,
clean and safe source of energy.
The IAEA fosters research and development
for the advancement of nuclear-reactor technology.
The Agency accompanies both experienced users
and newcomers at every stage of their nuclear-power journey.
It helps Member States enhance the safe and
secure management of nuclear facilities and materials.
And the IAEA advises on decommissioning plants
at the end of their operational life.
Our daily lives depend on a reliable supply of electricity.
All countries need energy for economic growth,
while working to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Nuclear power can help countries
to meet their growing energy demands
as well as their goals for reducing
greenhouse-gas emissions.
