Next-generation nuclear power plants
Emerging nuclear technologies hold the potential to provide clean energy solutions.
The expansion of current nuclear technology is constrained by limited known uranium reserves[1]. As a result, the future of nuclear energy depends on the successful development of Generation IV reactors, which are less dependent on uranium reserves.
Generation IV nuclear technology is expected to power commercial plants by 2030, provided development stays on track. These advanced reactors could also facilitate the production of liquid hydrogen through electrolysis during periods of low grid demand. This hydrogen could then be used as an energy storage solution or as fuel for fuel cell technology, which operates similarly to batteries but is not rechargeable.
Meanwhile, nuclear fusion, which relies on hydrogen, remains far from commercial viability—unless a major breakthrough significantly accelerates its development.