Nuclear energy integration tested by rising demand and solar growth in Asia

Southeast Asian nations are increasingly considering nuclear energy as a component of their decarbonisation strategies to meet rising electricity demands. With energy demand in the ASEAN region projected to grow by 25% by 2035, several countries are positioning nuclear power to complement renewable energy. Vietnam has announced the resumption of the Ninh Thuan nuclear project, Indonesia aims to commission its first plant by 2034, and the Philippines seeks to develop significant nuclear capacity by 2050. Malaysia is also exploring nuclear energy through MyPower Corporation, which has been designated to lead the country’s implementation efforts.

In South Korea, record-breaking heat waves and the rapid expansion of solar power are testing the stability of the national grid. While European nuclear plants have faced challenges due to cooling-water constraints from droughts, South Korea’s seawater-cooled plants face a different issue: balancing the intermittent nature of solar generation with the steady output of nuclear plants. Experts emphasize that the primary challenge for Korea is developing a flexible power system with sufficient transmission capacity and energy storage to accommodate both nuclear and renewable sources.