Nuclear generation expected to double by 2040 globally

Only South Korea has a "sizeable increase" in nuclear generating capacity.

Global nuclear electricity generation is expected to almost double by 2040, according to the latest projection by the US Department of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA). Most of this growth will be in the developing world, it said.

Releasing the latest edition of its International Energy Outlook yesterday, the EIA said total world energy consumption will increase by almost 50%, from 549 quadrillion British thermal units in 2012 to 815 quadrillion Btu in 2040. This growth will be driven by industrialization in non-OECD countries, especially in Asia, the EIA said.

"Developing Asia accounts for more than half of the projected increase in global energy use through 2040," said EIA administrator Adam Sieminski. "This increase will have a profound effect on the development of world energy markets." By 2040, almost two-thirds of the world's primary energy will be consumed in the non-OECD economies, according to the EIA.

Although consumption of non-fossil fuels is expected to grow faster than consumption of fossil fuels, fossil fuels will still account for 78% of primary energy in use in 2040. Coal will be the world's slowest growing energy source, rising by 0.6% annually from 153 quadrillion Btu in 2012 to 180 quadrillion Btu in 2040. China, the USA and India will remaining the top three coal-consuming countries, together accounting for more than 70% of world coal use. Natural gas consumption will grow 1.9% annually over the same period.

Among OECD countries, only South Korea has a "sizeable increase" in nuclear generating capacity (15 GWe), the EIA notes. However, reactor shutdowns in Canada and Europe, together with reduced capacity in Japan, will see an overall drop of 6 GWe in nuclear capacity in OECD nations by 2040.

View the full article here.

.