Nuclear energy, which is seen as a safe, clean and sustainable energy source, becomes increasingly important on a global scale. While the Earth begins to realize the advantages of nuclear power, the data at hand confirm this interest.
In 2024, Record Electricity Production According to World Nuclear Union (WNA) data, nuclear reactors in 2024 reached the highest level in history by generating electricity 2,667 Terawatt-Saat (TWH). This figure left behind the old 2,660 TWH record in 2006. A 66 TWH increase was observed compared to 2023. During this period, approximately 440 nuclear reactors worldwide meet 9 %of global electricity needs.
WNA General Director Sama Bilbao Y León said, “Every year, this record needs to be further developed. Because the way to meet our energy and climate goals is through here.”
According to WNA data, the location of the nuclear in the energy mixture is formed in the world energy distribution as follows:
- Coal: 36 %
- Natural Gas: 22 %
- Hydroelectric: 15 %
- Sun, Wind and Geothermal: 12 %
- Nuclear: 9 %
- Petroleum: 3 %
In the United Kingdom, the table differs: 30 %wind, 30 %natural gas, 14 %nuclear, 14 %bioenergy, 5 %sun, 2 %hydroelectric and 0.7 %coal. Nine active reactors are working in the country and this number is preparing to increase with new projects.
Fast growth in Asia has been commissioned in the last decade of 56 of the 68 reactors were built in Asia. Currently, 59 of the 70 reactors under construction are also in Asian countries. This trend shows that the region rapidly increases its nuclear capacity.
How does nuclear fission work? Nuclear energy is obtained by breaking radioactive elements such as uranium (fission). In this process:
- The neutron hits a large atomic nucleus.
- The atom is divided into two parts and a large amount of energy is released.
- This energy turns into heat and converts water to vapor.
- It produces low -carbon electricity by operating steam turbines.
Although this method has been known for a long time, the nuclear had decreased after the 1980s due to accidents and security concerns such as Chernobyl.
Although discussions and environmental concerns are accepted as “clean energy” because nuclear energy generates electricity without carbon emissions, environmentalists think differently. The Friends of the Earth argues that the nuclear is “a slow and expensive solution to the climate crisis ve and emphasizes that it carries serious risks that may remain dangerous for thousands of years. Despite all the discussions, many countries are turning to nuclear to reduce coal, oil and natural gas. Especially as the demand from new areas such as artificial intelligence and data centers increases, low -carbon energy production becomes even more critical. Dr. Bilbao Y León says that the nuclear sector should increase the growth rate in order to meet this need.
