Editing Nuclear power (section)

=== Current prospects ===
By 2015, the IAEA's outlook for nuclear energy had become more promising, recognizing the importance of low-carbon generation for mitigating [[climate change]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/news/2015/january/taking-a-fresh-look-at-the-future-of-nuclear-power.html|title=January: Taking a fresh look at the future of nuclear power|website=www.iea.org|access-date=2016-04-18|archive-date=2016-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160405120522/http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/news/2015/january/taking-a-fresh-look-at-the-future-of-nuclear-power.html|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|2015}}, the global trend was for new nuclear power stations coming online to be balanced by the number of old plants being retired.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[World Nuclear Association]] |url=http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide/ |title=Plans for New Reactors Worldwide |date=October 2015 |access-date=2016-01-05 |archive-date=2016-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131214224/http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Current-and-Future-Generation/Plans-For-New-Reactors-Worldwide/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, the [[U.S. Energy Information Administration]] projected for its "base case" that world nuclear power generation would increase from 2,344 [[terawatt hour]]s (TWh) in 2012 to 4,500{{nbsp}}TWh in 2040. Most of the predicted increase was expected to be in Asia.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/data/browser/#/?id=31-IEO2016&sourcekey=0 | title=International Energy outlook 2016 | publisher=US Energy Information Administration | access-date=17 August 2016 | archive-date=15 August 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815223701/http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/aeo/data/browser/#/?id=31-IEO2016&sourcekey=0 | url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2018, there were over 150 nuclear reactors planned including 50 under construction.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Plans for New Nuclear Reactors Worldwide|url=http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide.aspx|access-date=2018-09-29|website=www.world-nuclear.org|publisher=World Nuclear Association|archive-date=2018-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928230742/http://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2019, China had 45 reactors in operation, 13 under construction, and planned to build 43 more, which would make it the world's largest generator of nuclear electricity.<ref name="china19">{{cite magazine |date=12 January 2019 |title=Can China become a scientific superpower? – The great experiment |url=https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2019/01/12/can-china-become-a-scientific-superpower |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125020045/https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2019/01/12/can-china-become-a-scientific-superpower |archive-date=25 January 2019 |access-date=25 January 2019 |magazine=The Economist}}</ref> As of 2021, 17 reactors were reported to be under construction. China built significantly fewer reactors than originally planned. Its share of electricity from nuclear power was 5% in 2019<ref name="dwfrance">{{cite news |title=A global nuclear phaseout or renaissance? {{!}} DW {{!}} 04.02.2021 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-looking-for-final-repository-for-nuclear-waste-global-outlook/a-56449115 |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com) |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125101423/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-looking-for-final-repository-for-nuclear-waste-global-outlook/a-56449115 |url-status=live }}</ref> and observers have cautioned that, along with the risks, the changing economics of energy generation may cause new nuclear energy plants to "no longer make sense in a world that is leaning toward cheaper, more reliable renewable energy".<ref name="cnnchina">{{cite news |last1=Griffiths |first1=James |title=China's gambling on a nuclear future, but is it destined to lose? |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/13/business/china-nuclear-climate-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=CNN |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125101428/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/09/13/business/china-nuclear-climate-intl-hnk/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="francere">{{cite news |title=Building new nuclear plants in France uneconomical -environment agency |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/france-nuclearpower/building-new-nuclear-plants-in-france-uneconomical-environment-agency-idUSL8N1YF5HC |access-date=25 November 2021 |work=Reuters |date=10 December 2018 |language=en |archive-date=25 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211125145227/https://www.reuters.com/article/france-nuclearpower/building-new-nuclear-plants-in-france-uneconomical-environment-agency-idUSL8N1YF5HC |url-status=live }}</ref>

In October 2021, the Japanese cabinet approved the new Plan for Electricity Generation to 2030 prepared by the Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (ANRE) and an advisory committee, following public consultation. The nuclear target for 2030 requires the restart of another ten reactors. Prime Minister [[Fumio Kishida]] in July 2022 announced that the country should consider building advanced reactors and extending operating licences beyond 60 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nuclear Power in Japan|url=https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/japan-nuclear-power.aspx|author=World Nuclear Association|access-date=2022-09-12|archive-date=2020-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200401112727/http://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-g-n/japan-nuclear-power.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

As of 2022, with world oil and gas prices on the rise, while Germany is restarting its coal plants to deal with loss of Russian gas that it needs to supplement its {{lang|de|[[Energiewende]]}},<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germanys-uniper-bring-coal-fired-power-plant-heyden-4-back-onto-electricity-2022-08-22/| title=Germany's Uniper to restart coal-fired power plant as Gazprom halts supply to Europe| date=22 August 2022| publisher=Reuters| access-date=2022-09-12| archive-date=2022-09-09| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909205007/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/germanys-uniper-bring-coal-fired-power-plant-heyden-4-back-onto-electricity-2022-08-22/| url-status=live}}</ref> many other countries have announced ambitious plans to reinvigorate ageing nuclear generating capacity with new investments. French President [[Emmanuel Macron]] announced his intention to build six new reactors in coming decades, placing nuclear at the heart of France's drive for [[carbon neutrality]] by 2050.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/macron-bets-nuclear-carbon-neutrality-push-announces-new-reactors-2022-02-10/ |publisher = Reuters |title = Macron bets on nuclear in carbon-neutrality push, announces new reactors |date = 10 February 2022 |access-date = 2022-09-12 |archive-date = 2022-09-14 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220914080529/https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/macron-bets-nuclear-carbon-neutrality-push-announces-new-reactors-2022-02-10/ |url-status = live }}</ref> Meanwhile, in the United States, the [[Department of Energy]], in collaboration with commercial entities, [[TerraPower]] and [[X-energy]], is planning on building two different advanced nuclear reactors by 2027, with further plans for nuclear implementation in its long term green energy and energy security goals.<ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.science.org/content/article/department-energy-picks-two-advanced-nuclear-reactors-demonstration-projects |publisher = Science.org |title = Department of Energy picks two advanced nuclear reactors for demonstration projects, announces new reactors |date = 16 October 2020 |access-date = 3 March 2023 |archive-date = 24 February 2023 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230224021201/https://www.science.org/content/article/department-energy-picks-two-advanced-nuclear-reactors-demonstration-projects |url-status = live }}</ref>