8 Aug (NucNet): Nuclear energy’s long-term potential remains high, although its global expansion is projected to slow down in coming years, according to an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report released on 7 August 2017. The IAEA’s most optimistic projections for global installed nuclear power capacity indicate an increase from 2016 levels by 42% in 2030, by 83% in 2040 and by 123% in 2050. But at the low end, the agency said there could also be a decline in capacity by 12% in 2030 and 15% in 2040 before rebounding to present levels by 2050. Significant decline is expected in North America and in the region including northern, western and southern Europe, with only slight increases in Africa and western Asia, the IAEA said. Significant growth is projected in central and eastern Asia, where nuclear power capacity is expected to undergo an increase of 43% by 2050. The low projections to 2050 show no net growth in installed capacity. However, the IAEA said that does not mean there is no new construction. Even in the low case, some 320 GW of new nuclear power capacity will be installed by 2050, making up for the loss caused by retiring reactors, albeit not necessarily in the same regions. “The decline compared to previous projections is mainly on account of early retirement or lack of interest in extending the life of nuclear power plants in some countries, due to the reduced competitiveness of nuclear power in the short run and national nuclear policies in several countries following the accident at Fukushima-Daiichi in 2011,” the IAEA said. Details online: http://bit.ly/2vcz8Uo
