Afleveringen
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More than 1,100 people gathered in London for the 50th World Nuclear Symposium, taking part in a packed programme of discussions, panels and networking. In addition to the usual broad range of topics there were also two special full day programmes - one focused on end energy users and one on finance.
The event also saw the publication of 2025's World Nuclear Fuel Report, which warned that gaps could be opening up in the supply-demand picture over the coming years and investment decisions need to be taken now to fuel the forecast increase in nuclear power capacity.
The World Nuclear News team were there and have put together a series of reports on the symposium's proceedings, and the fuel report's findings.
People featured, in order of appearance:
Cecile Gregoire-David, Head of Uranium, Conversion and Enrichment Services, EDFMalcolm Critchley, CEO, ConverDynMeirzhan Yussupov, CEO, KazatompromMichael Huebel, Director General, Euratom Supply AgencySama Bilbao y León, Director General, World Nuclear AssociationTomass Ehler, Director General for Nuclear Energy, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Czech RepublicLauren Culver, Senior Energy Specialist, World BankLoyiso Tyabashe, CEO, South African Nuclear Energy CorporationMatt Firla-Cuchra, Global Lead Nuclear Energy, KPMGVictoria Kalb, Global Head ESG & Sustainability Research, UBSMark Muldowney, Energy, Resources and Infrastructure, BNP ParibasLee McDonough, Director General, Net Zero, Nuclear and International, UK Department for Energy Security and Net ZeroMichelle Catts, Senior Vice President Nuclear Programmes, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear EnergyPete Bryant, CEO, World Nuclear Transport InstituteBernard Fontana, Chairman and CEO, EDFVakis Ramany, Senior Vice President International Nuclear Development, EDFLeon Flexman, Corporate Affairs Director, X-energyMesut Uzman, Chief Nuclear Officer, Fermi AmericaRita Baranwal, Chief Nuclear Officer, RadiantRaquel Heredia Silva, World Nuclear AssociationKey links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Investment decisions needed to avoid fuel cycle supply gaps
'Difficult to overstate demand from institutional investors' for nuclear
World Nuclear Fuel Report
World Nuclear SymposiumEmail newsletter:
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[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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Nuclear reactors worldwide generated 2667 TWh of electricity in 2024, beating the previous record high of 2660 TWh which was set back in 2006, according to World Nuclear Performance Report 2025.
In this edition Jonathan Cobb, author of the report, outlines the key findings of the latest edition of the annual World Nuclear Association publication, which include the dominance of Asia in terms of new reactor capacity over the past decade.
There is also clear evidence that reactor performance does not decline with age - the reverse can be true with modernisation, uprates and long-term operation programmes helping capacity factors reach an average of 83% across the global fleet (the capacity factor is a percentage of what the output would have been if a reactor had operated at full capacity for every moment of a year).
Jonathan, who is senior programme lead, climate, at World Nuclear Association, also considers how likely it is that the record is going to be broken again in the next few years.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
World Nuclear Performance ReportEmail newsletter:
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[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Andy White, senior vice president of Energy and Environment International for Amentum, talks about his background and the work Amentum is doing in the UK and across Europe in the nuclear sector.
Among the topics covered:
* The change of attitudes which means that the future decommissioning process is included in the planning stages for new nuclear (and how that should reduce the number of 'surprises' when decommissioning plants)
* The company's work on new nuclear in the UK at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C and SMRs and operations in Poland, France, the Czech Republic as well as Norway and the Netherlands
* The benefits of bringing in technology, skills and people from other sectors (and countries) to help with what looks like being a forthcoming rapid expansion of new nuclear.
* Plus Amentum's nuclear fusion work, including at ITER, and the general outlook for nuclear, and how financing and regulation can help industry meet the demand for new capacity
We also bring you Claire Maden's conversation with Nima Ashkeboussi, vice president government relations and communications at Global Laser Enrichment, earlier this year at the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle conference in Canada.
In it he talks about the company's laser enrichment technology, explaining how it works and the big plans the company has - including 30-years' worth of work relating to the US Department of Energy's 200,000+ tonnes of depleted uranium. GLE's plan is to re-enrich this, so cleaning up a stranded asset and in the process providing a new source of fresh fuel.
GLE began a large-scale enrichment demonstration programme in May, and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepted for review the company's licensing application for a new facility to be built at Paducah, Kentucky earlier this month.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Amentum
GLE
GLE submits full application for laser enrichment facility licence
Amentum, Multiconsult to assess Norway's nuclear options
Amentum awarded Sizewell C project management contractEmail newsletter:
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[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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Nuclear energy lawyer Vince Zabielski, partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, has advised on numerous nuclear energy projects across the world, including the UAE nuclear new-build programme as well as those in Turkey, Bulgaria and the United Kingdom.
A mechanical engineer before moving into law, he tells host Alex Hunt about the haircut that launched his career in nuclear, his switch to the law, and explains the important role played by nuclear energy lawyers which is, he says, essentially "problem solving", for example finding a path forward on risk allocation to allow what are giant projects to go ahead.
Based in Pillsbury's London office, Zabielski talks about the recent announcements from the UK about Sizewell C funding and explains the benefits of the Regulated Asset Base financing system which is being used there, rather than the Contracts for Difference system used at the Hinkley Point C project and explains why he hopes the RAB system will be adopted elsewhere in Europe.
He also talks about the challenge ahead to meet the ambitious goals for future nuclear energy capacity, including how regulators can help. And he explains why he'd encourage young people to consider a career in nuclear power.
Also in this episode, in the news round-up, Claire Maden reports on the UK Government taking the Final Investment Decision on Sizewell C - which will feature two EDF EPRs with a capacity of 3.2GW - and the finalising of the project shareholdings. She also outlines the key findings of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency's Small Modular Reactor Dashboard, which has identified 127 different SMR designs around the world.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Sizewell C gets final go-ahead decision
There are now 127 different SMR designs, finds NEA report
The NEA SMR Digital Dashboard
Pillsbury: Vince ZabielskiEmail newsletter:
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[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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The World Bank has announced that it is no longer going to be excluding nuclear energy-related projects from its lending criteria. In this episode you can hear how World Bank Group President Ajay Banga and International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi outlined the logic behind the policy switch.
It came as they announced their two organisations’ agreement to work together to support countries which choose new nuclear as part of their development strategies.
Both are clear this was an important moment, and World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León, joins us to explain the significance of the change from the global industry’s standpoint.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear NewsWorld Bank and IAEA backing new nuclear for development
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[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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There are big expectations for large-scale growth in nuclear energy capacity over the coming years. That's good news for established technology providers and their partners. But new capacity in new locations means that there are going to be big opportunities (and challenges) emerging. This was the focus for World Nuclear Association’s first World Nuclear Supply Chain event, held in Poland.
There were more than 300 attendees from 27 countries, including government and industry delegations from Canada, China, Japan, Poland, South Korea and Sweden. As well as extensive networking opportunities there was a succession of high profile speakers taking part in panel sessions.
World Nuclear News's Warwick Pipe was there and reports on the event.
This episode features, in order of appearance,
Sama Bilbao y León, World Nuclear AssociationVakis Ramany, EDFGreg Thede, AeconGary Rose, AtkinsRéalisJon Franke, Ontario Power GenerationJanne Mokka, FortumHiroyuki Goto, Kansai Electric Power CoGareth Vaughan, AmentumPawel Gajda, Polish Ministry of IndustryRafal Kasprów, Orlen Synthos Green EnergyCarl Berglof, Swedish government's National Nuclear New Build CoordinatorAndy Fry, GE Vernova HitachiCosmin Ghita, NuclearelectricaRuth Todd, Rolls-Royce SMR Marc Tannenbaum, EPRIShuo Kan, China Nuclear Power EngineeringVivek Sharma, Adani Nora Signor, EDFGary Wolski, Curtiss-WrightJeremy Harrison, Government of SaskatchewanKey links to find out more:
World Nuclear NewsWorld Nuclear Supply Chain conference
Polish supply chain gears up for country's first nuclear project
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[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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US President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders titled Reinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base, Reforming Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy and Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission with the goal of "re-establishing the United States as the global leader in nuclear energy".
The aim is to increase US nuclear energy capacity from 100GW to 400GW by 2050, including the Department of Energy (DOE) prioritising work "with the nuclear energy industry to facilitate 5 gigawatt of power uprates to existing nuclear reactors and have 10 new large reactors with complete designs under construction by 2030".
Explanations of each of the executive orders was given as they were presented to the president to add his signature in the Oval Office. In this episode we play pretty much the whole of that event. As well as the US President, you’ll hear from Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, who is also Chairman of the National Energy Dominance Council, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Joe Dominguez, CEO of Constellation Energy, Maria Korsnick, CEO of the Nuclear energy Institute, Jacob DeWitte, founder and CEO of Oklo and Scott Nolan of uranium enrichment company General Matter.
World Nuclear News’s Claire Maden drills into more of the detail of the announcements, and Jonathan Cobb, senior programme lead, climate, at World Nuclear Association then assesses the broader implications of the US adopting the goal of quadrupling its nuclear energy capacity.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear NewsReinvigorating the Nuclear Industrial Base
Nuclear Reactor Testing at the Department of Energy
Ordering the Reform of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
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[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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In the second of a two-part special report from the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2025 conference held in Canada, Claire Maden reports on the opportunities and challenges facing players across the entire fuel sector.
There is the aim to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, shared by many governments, businesses and financial institutions. But will there be the necessary fuel available if that goal is to be reached?
Among the issues covered in this episode are developments in the uranium enrichment sector and the challenges faced by transporters of nuclear materials. It also includes discussion of innovative technologies, and the outlook for nuclear fuel markets.
This episode features:
Christo Liebenberg, LIS Technologies CEO and COO
John Donelson, Centrus Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
John-Paul Jones, Urenco Head of Commercial and Market Intelligence
Jean-Luc Palayer, Orano USA President and CEO
Eileen Supko, Energy Resources International President and World Nuclear Transport Institute North American Representative
Kurtis Hinz, TAM International President and CEO
Paul Chan, Clean Core Thorium Energy Chief Technology Officer
Iftikhar Haque, Terrestrial Energy Vice President, Nuclear Supply Chain
Micah Hackett, Kairos Power Vice President Fuels and Materials
Tom Brookmire, Dominion Energy Manager, Nuclear Fuel Procurement
Lourdes Guzmán, ENUSA Industrias Avanzadas Uranium Supply Manager
Chris Opperman, C5 Capital Operating Partner
Jonathan Hinze, UxC, LLC President
Sama Bilbao y León, World Nuclear Association Director GeneralKey links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2025
'Great opportunities ahead' for fuel cycleEmail newsletter:
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[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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In the first of a two-part special report from the World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2025 conference held this month in Canada, Claire Maden reports on the opportunities and challenges facing players across the entire fuel sector.
There is the aim to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, shared by many governments, businesses and financial institutions. But will there be the necessary fuel available if that goal is to be reached?
Among the issues raised were the impact of trade tariffs, transport issues and wider geopolitics. They will all have an impact on an industry which spans the globe.
This episode features contributions from:
Sama Bilbao y León, World Nuclear Association Director General
Nicolle Butcher, Ontario Power Generation President and CEO
Tim Gitzel, Cameco President and CEO
Sashi Davies, Boss Energy Ltd Strategic Advisor
Tammy Van Lambalgen, Orano Canada Inc Vice President, Chief Corporate Officer
Seitzhan Zhanybekov, Kazatomprom Managing Director, Sales
Lisa Aitken, Cameco Vice President, Marketing
Andrew Wong, RBC Capital Markets Equity Research Analyst
Anna Bryndza, UxC LLC Executive Vice President
Nikko Collida, WMC Energy Deputy Head of Nuclear Fuel
Brad Beatty, ConverDyn Commercial Manager
Steffen Asser, Axpo Power AG Senior Supply Chain ManagerKey links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
World Nuclear Fuel Cycle 2025
'Great opportunities ahead' for fuel cycleEmail newsletter:
Sign up to the World Nuclear News daily or weekly news round-upsContact info:
[email protected]Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production
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Bruce Power's Chief Operating Officer James Scongack is Chairman of the Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council and, as he explains, the country aims to play a leadership role in nuclear medicine, not just for Canada's benefit, but also to provide health benefits for the rest of the world.
He outlines the life-saving diagnostics and treatments that now exist thanks to isotopes produced in Canada's Candu reactors, research reactors and cyclotrons, and talks about the new trials and treatments which are emerging.
The Canadian Nuclear Isotope Council has recently signed an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency's Rays for Hope campaign and aims to help provide access to nuclear medicine's diagnostics and treatments to those parts of the world where people do not currently have access. This is part of what he sees as driving hugely growing demand in the years ahead.
For those who may say that producing isotopes is the equivalent of a 'side hustle' for a nuclear power plant, Scongack says it might be "1% of the cashflow, but it's 50% of our contribution" in terms of tackling some of the greatest challenges that communities and society are facing.
Scongack also talks about progress at Bruce Power, where the modernisation programme is adding extra capacity equivalent to that which would be provided by building three small modular reactors. There's also an update on Bruce C.
Scongack, who sees a bright future for nuclear energy in general, says that communicating positive stories is key. He presents the Canadian Nuclear Isotopes Council's own podcast - called Isotopes for Hope - helping to spread the news about what he calls a "real hidden gem of what our industry around the world does".
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Canadian Nuclear Isotopes Council
Isotopes for Hope
Bruce Power
Milestones for Canada's Bruce Power unitsEmail newsletter:
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
There have been a raft of announcements from India in February relating to new nuclear energy capacity. Retired diplomat, author and distinguished fellow of the Vivekananda International Foundation, Ambassador D. P. Srivastava, is the coordinator of a foundation task force report on the energy transition in the country and he joins us to discuss the future for nuclear energy in India.
The budget goal is to increase capacity from 7 GW to 100 GW by 2047, and as he explains, there will be a need for both indigenous and international technology involved in meeting that target. To help that process, India is now in the process of allowing private sector involvement in new nuclear and proposing changes to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act of 2010, which has been seen as a stumbling block for overseas nuclear power plant vendors. In addition, Prime Minister Modi has recently agreed new cooperation deals with French President Macron and US President Trump.
Fuel has also been loaded into the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor at Kalpakkam, technology, which he explains, is set to play a key role in India's nuclear future. Srivastava also talks about the task force report's suggestion that India would need a huge amount more than 100 GW nuclear capacity if it is to achieve net zero by 2070.
All these announcements set the mood at India Energy Week, a huge event where nuclear took a prominent role. World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León was there and she joins us to give her impression of the event, which included Prime Minister Modi talking about new nuclear.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Vivekananda International Foundation
Modi, Trump commit to US-India partnership
Collaboration key to clean energy dream, India Energy Week hears
India and France sign SMR and AMR partnership letter of intent
Indian budget launches Nuclear Energy Mission
USA to end restrictions on India's nuclear entitiesEmail newsletter:
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
An agreement has been concluded to renew the Generation IV International Forum, which aims to build on its first 25 years of sharing research and development on innovative nuclear reactor designs. In this episode, William D Magwood IV, Director-General of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, which supports GIF as its Technical Secretariat, explains how the forum came about, how it works, what the key achievements have been so far and what the hopes for the future are.
He says that originally it was expected to be governments and government laboratories taking the lead, but now the private sector is doing it "which is very energising and very exciting". He says a key priority is to facilitate private sector success in the deployment of these technologies, albeit with challenges from working with IP issues across the private and public sector, and looks ahead to some lead countries demonstrating how these technologies can be regulated effectively.
All in all, he believes that the future for nuclear energy "is brighter than it's probably been in history".
In the World Nuclear News round-up Claire Maden reports on what we know so far about the impact on the nuclear sector from the return to the White House of US President Donald Trump, while Warwick Pipe has an update on the French nuclear power programme, following the Flamanville EPR's long-awaited connection to the grid.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Gen IV International Forum
Climate and energy in Trump's Day One executive orders
French auditor warns of challenges for EPR2 programme
France's Flamanville EPR starts supplying powerEmail newsletter:
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
The World Nuclear News team looks back over the most read articles in 2024 - with topics including tech giants turning to nuclear energy for data centres, nuclear battery innovations, the uranium market and progress on current and proposed nuclear power capacity projects.
Then World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León sits down with host Alex Hunt to pick out key developments of the year - such as the public backing for nuclear from large financial institutions at New York Climate Week and political leaders declaring their commitment at the IAEA's Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels.
She also highlights the importance of discussions at COP29 about carbon markets, and reflects on the similarities and differences in the case put for nuclear energy at conferences held in different parts of the world.
Looking ahead to 2025 there are big set-piece events to look forward to - such as World Nuclear Association's 50th Symposium, COP30 and the first World Nuclear Supply Chain conference - as well as likely big moments for Turkey and Bangladesh's first units - and continued work on financing and achieving a change in multilateral bank lending policies towards nuclear.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
COP29
World Nuclear Association
Net Zero Nuclear
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Reporters Claire Maden and Warwick Pipe. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
The COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, was the latest global gathering aiming to agree measures to tackle climate change. Jonathan Cobb, senior programme lead, climate, at World Nuclear Association, was there. In this episode he explains what COP is, what the aims of COP29 were, what was achieved, and what role nuclear energy played.
He also explains why many people's focus was already looking towards COP30 in Brazil - and outlines the nuclear energy-related events held, and agreements signed, at Baku. Notable among these announcements was six more signatories - El Salvador, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kosovo, Nigeria and Turkey - to the Net Zero Nuclear goal of tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
Also in this edition, Claire Maden rounds up some of the big nuclear energy stories in November, including Russia's decision to restrict uranium exports to the USA, the go-ahead being given for the Hermes 2 molten salt-cooled reactor and China's latest nuclear-powered district heating achievement.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
COP29
Net Zero Nuclear
Russia places 'tit-for-tat' ban on US uranium exports
China's first commercial nuclear district heating scheme expands
Hermes 2 construction permits approved by NRC
UK SMR negotiations begin with bidders
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
Martin Cheetham is the station director of the EDF-run Heysham 2 nuclear power plant on the Lancashire coast in northwest England. It has two advanced gas-cooled reactors which were first connected to the grid in 1988. They have a combined power of 1.24 GW and had an initial design life to 2023 before being extended to 2028.
The second unit at Heysham 2 power plant set a record with 940 days of continuous operation from 2014 to 2016 and the plant is now closing in on setting a new record for electricity generated by a nuclear power plant in the UK. As it does so, there are currently checks going on which could see a further extension to its life.
In this episode Cheetham talks about the similarities and differences between nuclear and his earlier work at thermal energy plants, he explains what decisions on Heysham's lifetime extension rest on, and why such decisions are different for the UK's fleet of AGRs compared with pressurised water reactors.
He also highlights the potential for the Heysham site to become home to a new generation of nuclear power, in the form of small modular reactors.
Key links to find out more:
See pictures from inside Heysham 2
World Nuclear News
Kazatomprom, MonAtom join forces in strategic partnership
Preliminary Czech ruling rejects Westinghouse and EDF appeals
Engineering contract for Bulgarian units signed with Hyundai E&C and Westinghouse
Slovenia's referendum on new nuclear cancelled
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
Global tech giants Microsoft, Google and Amazon have all announced deals which will see them using nuclear energy in the coming years. In this edition we outline what has been announced, why, and also consider the significance for new nuclear energy in the future.
There is also a report from Claire Maden on what was a very timely session at last month's World Nuclear Symposium focusing on connecting end users with 24/7 energy. Those who featured on the panel include Todd Noe, Director of Nuclear & Energy Innovation at Microsoft, Claude Lorea, Cement, Innovation and ESG Director for the Global Concrete and Cement Association, Lou Martinez Sancho, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, R&D and Innovation, for Westinghouse and The Nuclear Company's Juliann Edwards.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Amazon invests in X-energy, unveils SMR project plans
Google and Kairos Power team up for SMR deployments
Constellation to restart Three Mile Island unit, powering Microsoft
How end-users can help drive nuclear new-build
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
A group of 14 global financial institutions have expressed their support for the call to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050. Their message, during New York Climate Week, stated their recognition that global civil nuclear energy projects have an important role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy and means they join 25 countries and more than 120 companies already signed up to that tripling goal.
Jonathan Cobb, senior programme lead, climate, at World Nuclear Association, explains the significance of the pledge from the 14 institutions - Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Ares Management, Bank of America, Barclays, BNP Paribas, Brookfield, Citi, Credit Agricole CIB, Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities LLC, Morgan Stanley, Rothschild & Co, Segra Capital Management, and Societe Generale.
But how can that support be translated into firm investments? Well, in this finance-focused episode, we also hear what some of the senior decision-makers said at World Nuclear Symposium earlier in September, about the challenges for private finance in new nuclear, and their ideas for smoothing that path.
Among those featuring are:
Vicki Kalb, Global Head of ESG and Sustainability Research at UBS
Seb Henbest, Group Head of Climate Transition at HSBC
Bill Lacivita, Partner at McKinsey & Company
Ed Cook, Global Head of Capital Markets at BlackRock
Cosmin Ghita, Chief Executive Officer at Nuclearelectrica
Kim Lauritsen, Senior VP, Enterprise Strategy & Energy Markets at
Ontario Power Generation
László Varró, VP, Strategy Insights & Scenarios at Shell InternationalKey links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
International banks express support for nuclear expansion
Net Zero NuclearEmail newsletter:
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
Total nuclear electricity generation rose in 2023 despite a small drop in overall capacity, according to World Nuclear Performance Report 2024. In this episode, lead author Jonathan Cobb, senior programme lead, climate, at World Nuclear Association, joins us to pick out the key stats and trends from the annual collection of operating facts and figures.
He explains how the average operating capacity of nuclear power plants has been increasing - with trends showing that older nuclear plants operating better than they ever have. That, and a better year for output in France, helps to explain how output was able to rise, despite overall capacity not following suit.
Also in the episode, Juliann Edwards, chief development officer at start-up The Nuclear Company, explains the company's goals of getting fleet-scale nuclear energy projects up and running in the USA.
Edwards, who is also chair of US Women in Nuclear, talks as well about the initiatives and progress made in improving the gender balance and wider diversity within the nuclear workforce.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
World Nuclear Performance Report 2024
Nuclear fleet maintained high performance in 2023
Startup brings fresh approach to US nuclear deployment
US Women in Nuclear
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
Steady Energy is developing the LDR-50 small modular reactor with the initial goal of decarbonising district heating systems. The CEO of the Finnish company, Tommi Nyman, explains why the decision to focus on heat rather than electricity was taken.
The company was spun out of VTT, Finland's national research lab, and was prompted by its researchers noting that 10% of CO2 emissions come from heating water or steam to 150C and thinking "why not build something simple that would only cover low temperature heat markets". "In the context of the climate crisis, nuclear is a very good option, but the problem has been getting projects economically sound so that nuclear can be utilised without large subsidies. We know that the most economical way to use nuclear is just to generate thermal energy without using the heat to create electricity," he tells host Alex Hunt.
Nyman added that simplicity has been key to their design, "by only producing heat you can reduce the amount of equipment in a nuclear power plant by 50%". The cost of energy they are aiming at is below EUR40 per MWh, depending on how the utility wants to operate it and the aim is to have a first plant delivered in 2030.
Also in this episode World Nuclear News's Claire Maden reports on events in India, South Africa and uranium developments in the USA and Australia.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Finnish municipal decision-makers favourable to SMRs
India's NTPC confirms plans for nuclear subsidiary
South Africa pauses nuclear procurement processEmail newsletter:
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production -
Southern Nuclear's Senior Vice President for Vogtle 3 and 4, John Williams, discusses the achievement and "tremendous pride" from everyone involved in completing the first new nuclear units built in the USA for more than 30 years.
He says that both AP1000s have been performing well, with Vogtle 3 operating at 98% capacity since being put into service a year ago. And, as well as the direct jobs - 9000 workers were on site at peak construction - he says that people can see the benefits of carbon-free energy being produced and understand how important it is for the future of energy in the US and further afield.
The project had many well-documented challenges to overcome - the impact of Fukushima, Westinghouse's Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017 and the global pandemic - and Williams says there have been many lessons learned which Southern Company is committed to sharing with utilities in the US and other countries as they embark on their own projects. The first lesson, he says, is the need for resilience, which has been demonstrated by the project partners Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.
In the World Nuclear News round-up Claire Maden reports on the passing of the ADVANCE Act in the US, Kazakhstan's plans for a referendum later this year on new nuclear, and the latest uranium-mining developments in Niger.
Key links to find out more:
World Nuclear News
Commercial operation marks completion of Vogtle expansion
Kazakhstan's nuclear energy referendum to be held this year
Niger revokes mining permit for Imouraren project
Southern Nuclear: Plant VogtleEmail newsletter:
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Episode credit: Presenter Alex Hunt. Co-produced and mixed by Pixelkisser Production - Laat meer zien
