Publications

Five ways the U.S. nuclear energy industry is evolving in 2024: U.S. nuclear capacity has the potential to triple to 300GW by 2050; how will it get there?
- November 1, 2024: Vol. 17, Number 10

To read this full article you need to be subscribed to Institutional Investing in Infrastructure

Five ways the U.S. nuclear energy industry is evolving in 2024: U.S. nuclear capacity has the potential to triple to 300GW by 2050; how will it get there?

by Dr. Michael Goff

The nuclear energy landscape in the United States is changing rapidly as demand for clean firm power rises and the nation strives to meet its climate goals.

Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, the domestic nuclear industry is leveraging federal funding, loan authority and new tax incentives to extend reactor operations, increase capacity and restart our retired reactors.

Early in 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report on how to commercialize advanced nuclear technologies, and they have now updated it to generate faster, more coordinated action for the deployment of advanced reactors so we can increase our access to clean energy. Here’s what’s new.

Meeting surging demand

The updated report finds the United States will now need at least 700 gigawatts to 900 gigawatts of additional clean firm power to keep pace with updated load growth projections to reach net-zero emissions.

For reprint and licensing requests for this article, Click Here.

Forgot your username or password?