IAEA projects global nuclear capacity could triple by 2060

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) projects that global nuclear energy capacity could triple by 2060, potentially rising from 377 GW in 2025 to 1,284 GW. This growth is driven by increasing electricity demand and energy security needs, with small modular reactors playing an increasingly significant role. Under a high-growth scenario, capacity could reach 1,284 GW, while a low-growth scenario predicts 696 GW. Much of this expansion is expected to concentrate in Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Central and Eastern Asia.

While demand is rising due to factors such as AI data centers, electric vehicles, and industrial growth, a joint report by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and the IAEA highlights a potential bottleneck. Although there are sufficient uranium resources to meet even the most ambitious expansion plans—with identified recoverable resources exceeding 8.1 million tonnes—the challenge lies in the decades-long timeline required to convert these resources into usable nuclear fuel.