What Role Does Nuclear Energy Play in a Net-Zero Future?

The outlook for nuclear energy to provide much of the economy’s baseline energy needs is challenged by an aging portfolio of reactors and a shallow pipeline of applications to build and operate new plants in the future. Over the next three decades, most of the US’ 93 nuclear reactors are approaching the end of their respective Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) license terms. While it is possible to extend operating licenses for some of these facilities, in many cases these extensions have already been granted, and decommissioning may be the likely next step for these aging energy infrastructure assets. That leaves the economy woefully short in meeting future energy demand from zero-carbon nuclear sources.