The International Atomic Energy Agency reported on Monday that By 2050, installed nuclear power will increase by only 40 percent compared to its minimum scenario and 2.5 times in the most optimistic case. Both scenarios fall short of the promise announced last year to triple generation by mid-century, Bloomberg reported.
The most optimistic scenario The IAEA projects installed nuclear capacity to increase to 950 gigawatts by 2050. from about 372 gigawatts today. This increase equates to about 578 new reactors, or more than twice the number of operating units in Europe and the U.S. combined. The least optimistic scenario predicts an increase of just 40 percent to 514 gigawatts.
Delays and rising costs
The IAEA report says public support for nuclear power as a zero-emission technology is growing worldwide. However, some weak links prevent rapid commercialization of new plants.
The largest number of nuclear power plants are currently being built in China and Russia.. Meanwhile, European projects in Western economies have been plagued by construction delays and rising costs in recent decades. Nuclear power advocates estimate that to achieve the goal over the next two and a half decades,about $5 trillion is needed.
US Public Opinion Is Shifting in Support of Nuclear Power / Bloomberg
