Nuclear Energy Policy Initiative

Nuclear energy is poised to play a significant role in the secure decarbonization of the entire energy sector, from electricity to industrial uses. Its versatility, reliability, and dispatchability enables it to underpin the emissions-free economy of the future, especially in the later stages of the energy transition. As advanced technologies enter the fray alongside existing ones, nuclear power’s importance in countries like the United States and Japan, in addition to the challenges it faces and the solutions needed to tackle them, will become apparent.

Trade tools that increase the price of carbon-intensive imports will likely lead to greater global interest in low-carbon technologies, including nuclear energy. This presents opportunities for investment in nuclear energy in developing, export-oriented countries along with potential risks for developed countries closing down nuclear generation and the international nonproliferation regime.