Nuclear Power - what's been and what's next?

From nuclei to the world

In the 1930s, several research centres specialising in nuclear physics were founded worldwide following the discovery of the neutron in 1931, when the excitement of nuclear transmutation had begun. Huge steps were then made in the 1940s regarding our understanding of Nuclear Fission¹.

Nuclear Fission was first discovered in 1938 by Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassman by bombarding elements with neutrons². Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the atoms of these elements, with nuclear fission being the release of energy as a result of nuclei splitting into several parts³.

The process of Nuclear Fusion can also release nuclear energy through the fusion of two nuclei³. At present, the use of Nuclear Fusion to generate electricity is still in the Research and Development phase³. Nuclear Fission is what was used in the past and currently.

The properties of Uranium were also being studied in detail at the same time in the UK, Europe and United States. Uranium is now the most widely used fuel for nuclear power plants due to its fissile nature, meaning its atoms can easily be split apart to release energy⁴.

Fast-forward to 20 years later, nuclear energy started to go commercial. In 1957, Westinghouse in the United States connected the first fully commercial pressurised water reactor, the Shippingport Atomic Power Station. This birthed the nuclear power generation craze in the 1960’s, with the PWR being the most common design used today¹. Meanwhile, Argonne National Laboratory was developing the first boiling water reactor¹. France also started up their first reactor with a gas-graphite design in 1956, with commercial models operating from 1959¹. The first two Soviet nuclear power plants were commissioned in 1964¹.

Following this, there was a nuclear power expansion boom, driven predominantly by North America and Europe⁵. In the 80s, approximately 16-17% of the world’s electricity was generated by nuclear power¹.

Losing momentum

However, from the 1980s into the early 2000s, the use of Nuclear Power declined and stagnated globally¹. The incidents at Three Mile Island in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986 altered public and government perception of Nuclear Power. Costs, time to build, lack of human resources and concerns surrounding disposal of nuclear waste still serve as hurdles to the use and expansion of nuclear power in some parts of the world.

The current global landscape of Nuclear Power

Due to the concerns surrounding the use of Nuclear Power, many countries including Germany, Denmark, Italy, Spain and Austria are phasing it out⁶. Other countries such as Luxembourg or Greece have never had Nuclear Power in the first place⁶.

However, other countries such as the United States⁷, France, the UK and China⁸ seek to expand their Nuclear Power capabilities, with Bulgaria, Czechia, Romania, Slovakia and Poland also looking to make it a considerable part of their energy mix⁶.

There are three main reasons for the resurgence of Nuclear Power in these countries¹:

Projections of large increases in demand for electricity

Increased attention towards energy security whereby individual countries can maintain national access to affordable energy and dispatchable energy to always meet demands

Climate change concerns resulting in many countries looking to low-carbon sources of electricity to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

In 2023, nuclear power provided 10% of the world’s electricity⁹, and the International Atomic Energy Agency predicts global nuclear energy capacity will more than double by 2050¹⁰.

New Developments – SMRs

In recent years, focus has turned to the development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

These advanced nuclear reactors are smaller than traditional nuclear reactors and have one third of the electricity-generating capacity⁹.

Unlike the larger, traditional reactors that must be custom built, many of the components of SMRs can be assembled in a factory before being transported to their designated location for installation⁹. This, along with their smaller size means they are cheaper, take less time to build, have reduced fuel requirements and can be sited in places unsuitable for larger power plants e.g. remote locations with little infrastructure⁹. Furthermore, their modular design means SMRs can be deployed in proportion to energy demand, offering a more flexible solution to power generation⁹.

There are more than 80 SMR designs and concepts globally, with many countries in the research and developments stages 9. Argentina, China and Russia have already reached the advanced stages of construction 9. In the UK, Rolls Royce have been selected in the Great British Nuclear SMR competition as the company to build the UK’s next generation of nuclear power plants¹¹.

New Developments – building more traditional reactors

In addition to the development and construction of SMRs, the UK and other countries are also looking to and currently in the process of building larger, traditional reactors. Construction started on Hinkley Point C in December 2019 in Somerset, with plans for it to be commissioned in June 2027¹². This significant project, once completed, will provide 3,200 MW of electrical capacity to the UK and is estimated to offset 600 million tons of CO2 emissions over its 60-year lifetime (relative to fossil fuels)¹². Meanwhile, China has almost 30 new builds in progress, alongside 58 civil nuclear reactors already in operation¹³. The 30 new builds in China represent almost half of all power reactors currently under construction worldwide¹³.

Maintaining Nuclear Security

With high geopolitical tension and many countries increasing or maintaining reliance on nuclear power, the importance of nuclear safety remains as significant as ever.

Chernobyl, Fukushima and other past incidents demonstrate the serious consequences — whether physical, political, or psychological — that can result from nuclear incidents. Even when major releases or fatalities do not occur, such as Three Mile Island, the spread of misinformation and lack of public awareness itself can cause more damage and harm than the real disaster of a nuclear accident.

Even with significantly improved nuclear safety in contemporary plant designs, it is essential to be prepared against targeted attacks, leaks and other accidents on the off chance that they do occur.

Delivering accurate, up-to-date data from early warning systems to remote decision-makers on local, national and international scales enables prepared responses to rapidly be set in motion. The appropriate public message can be delivered to reduce panic. The appropriate action can also be taken to decrease human and environmental health risks, protect key infrastructure and minimise the spread of contamination.

In summary

Even though some countries are no longer pursuing nuclear power, it still is and will remain a significant part of the global energy mix.

New technologies are being developed that overcome some of the challenges of using nuclear power to generate electricity.

Following past nuclear and radiological accidents, nuclear safety has been significantly improved. However, the risk is not fully gone.

Therefore, to minimise the risks associated with nuclear energy, it’s critical that governments, regulators, and energy providers move from reactive to proactive strategies. Comprehensive monitoring, accurate real-time data, and widespread communication networks are essential. Early warning systems can help detect threats before they become crises.

Nuclear physics has grown significantly since the discovery of nuclear fission in the 1930s, and it is still growing. As global nuclear capabilities scale up, so must our understanding, oversight, and preparedness. The future of nuclear energy lies not just in its ability to generate power, but in the ability to manage it wisely, safely, and sustainably.