INTERVIEW – Nuclear expansion to gather pace as countries seek energy security, industry chief says

• Nuclear-generated heat could help cut emissions in industries that are difficult to electrify, including metallurgy and petrochemicals, Bilbao y Leon tells Anadolu at COP31

Nuclear energy is set to play a growing role in meeting electricity demand and cutting industrial emissions as countries seek more secure energy supplies, according to World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y Leon.

Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, Bilbao y Leon said interest in nuclear power was being driven by a combination of climate commitments, energy security concerns and the need for affordable, reliable supplies.

Beyond powering homes and businesses, she said nuclear energy could help reduce fossil fuel use in industries that are difficult to electrify.

“Nuclear energy is one of very few energy sources that can produce electricity and heat,” she said.

“So not only we can help electrify the economy, but we can also, with nuclear energy, help decarbonize some sectors of the economy that are not easy to electrify.”

She pointed to metallurgy, petrochemicals, sustainable aviation fuels and shipping as areas where nuclear-generated energy could support emissions reductions.

Expansion beyond electricity

Bilbao y Leon said nuclear power’s contribution to electricity systems stretches back more than six decades, even as the technology attracts renewed attention in climate discussions.

The association’s latest World Nuclear Outlook report puts nuclear share of global electricity at around 9% in 2025. It projects that capacity could reach 1,467 gigawatts by 2050 if national targets and identified projects materialize and existing reactors continue operating.

She said 39 countries had already signed a declaration supporting the tripling of global nuclear capacity by mid-century, while more than 50 had plans to include nuclear in their energy mix.

The expansion would involve both building reactors and extending the operating lives of existing plants, she said, with countries across several continents pursuing new projects.

However, she acknowledged that the scale of additional generation available within the next decade could be limited.

“So it may not be enormously contributory in 2030 or 2035, but certainly we will see an exponential growth for nuclear as the century goes on,” she said.

Turning those ambitions into operating plants remains a substantial challenge.

The association’s outlook says achieving a tripling would eventually require construction rates around six times current levels, alongside investment in fuel supplies, manufacturing and skilled workers.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has also identified financing and delivery as major obstacles. Its 2025 nuclear report highlighted project delays and cost overruns in the US and France, noting that lengthy permitting and construction periods can make new reactors difficult to finance.

Energy security adds momentum

For Bilbao y Leon, the renewed interest reflects concerns extending beyond emissions.

“Every country is trying to make sure that they have access to domestic energy and nuclear is a great way to do that,” she said.

She argued that access to a steady electricity supply could also support industrial investment and wider economic development.

The IEA nevertheless cautions that nuclear expansion requires more diversified fuel supply chains. Its 2025 assessment found that four suppliers accounted for more than 99% of global uranium enrichment capacity, with Russia alone accounting for 40%.

Preparing for warmer climate

Asked about nuclear power’s dependence on cooling water as temperatures rise and droughts intensify, Bilbao y Leon said plant design could account for changing conditions.

She also highlighted the use of heat from nuclear plants for district heating, supplying nearby communities with energy that would otherwise be released into the environment.

Cooling remains an adaptation challenge, however. The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency says floods, storms, heat waves and droughts have already affected nuclear plant operations, while warmer cooling water can reduce generating efficiency and output.

Bilbao y Leon said efforts to use nuclear heat and adapt plant designs were part of the industry’s response.

“This is some of the things that we are doing to make sure that nuclear power plants are more resilient to climate change,” she said.