Nuclear Energy for Clean Energy Transitions

The call for an acceleration of the deployment of nuclear power as part of the COP28 negotiated outcome/First Global Stocktake was a testimony to the increasing recognition that nuclear has a key role to play in clean energy transitions. In addition, 25 countries pledged to work towards tripling global nuclear power capacity to reach net zero by 2050. Providing 23.5% of the world’s low carbon electricity today, nuclear power needs to scale up 2.5 times by 2050 to meet the climate targets, according to the high case scenario of IAEA Projections. With currently 415 reactors in operation in 31 countries, 17 countries are expanding their nuclear fleet, and 32 newcomer countries are considering incorporating nuclear energy into their mix, including Saudi Arabia. ​This first-of a-kind discussion within the Saudi Green Initiative programming will reflect on the opportunities and challenges that the sector will face in the upcoming years to contribute to net zero by the middle of the century. ​​

This event will highlight the momentum around the role of nuclear energy in the clean energy transitions, showcase good practices from countries with longstanding tradition operating nuclear power, and discuss the pathways for embarking countries. At the same time, the event will touch upon the need for financing the projected scale up of nuclear capacity by 2050, and the potential of nuclear power to decarbonize hard to abate sectors and power data centres.​​