Nuclear Energy

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Nuclear energy already is a mature technology, benefiting from several decades of development and industrial experience. It has the potential for contributing to future sustainable supply of energy services, taking advantage of feedback from past experience and ongoing R&D programmes on advanced systems.

The future of nuclear energy will depend on the evolution of the broad social and economic context and on technology progress and breakthroughs that will be achieved. Reviewing the present status and trends in the field of nuclear energy provides some insights into its future prospects. A rapid survey of recent achievements in technology progress and R&D programmes complements the overall picture of nuclear energy potentials and its likely future. Both past experience and ongoing activities illustrate the benefit of international co-operation and the role of international organisations such as the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency.

Nuclear energy today

Nuclear energy has moved from the discovery of fission to a mature technology commercially deployed in many countries over a relatively short period of time. The first kWh of nuclear electricity was delivered to the grid only some 50 years ago, and today nuclear energy contributes to energy supply in more than 30 countries, including 16 OECD countries. More than 10 000 reactor-years of commercial operation experience, including 8 000 reactor-years in OECD countries, have been accumulated.

By the end of 2001, some 438 nuclear power plants were in operation in the world, representing an installed capacity of 353 GWe, supplying some 6% of total primary energy consumption and around 15% of total electricity generation. Some 80% of the total nuclear capacity is operated in OECD countries, where the nuclear energy share is higher than worldwide, corresponding to nearly one quarter of total electricity generation.

It is important to note that nuclear electricity generation, being practically carbon free, contributes to alleviating the risk of global warming and climate change. So far, in OECD countries, nuclear energy has been a main factor in reducing or stabilising greenhouse gas emissions in spite of growing energy consumption. Globally, nuclear-generated electricity is responsible for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector by some 8% each year. Furthermore, nuclear power plants and fuel cycle facilities require less land and water than most other energy systems and do not release particulate matter or gases, such as sulphur and nitrogen oxides, responsible for acid rain, urban smog and depletion of the ozone layer.

The contribution of nuclear energy to diversity and security of supply is also worth noting. Nuclear energy alleviates dependency on hydrocarbons, a key driving factor in energy policies of some OECD countries, such