Expectations for 15 Reactors to Operate Worldwide in 2026

SadaNews - BloombergNEF expects that the nuclear energy sector will operate 15 reactors worldwide in 2026, marking a significant leap after the total capacity shrank by 1.1 gigawatts this year.

In a report published on Monday, BloombergNEF stated that only two new reactors have come online this year up to November, while seven reactors have been shut down.

About 12 gigawatts of nuclear capacity is set to be added in 2026, including the "Palisades" plant in Michigan, which is being restarted. However, it will likely take several years to complete any new traditional nuclear projects.

50 Nuclear Reactors Expected to Become Operational by 2030

More than 50 new reactors are expected to come online worldwide between 2027 and 2030, a substantial number for an industry that has been largely stagnant this century. Nevertheless, even with these new reactors, the electricity generated will not be enough to meet the soaring demand, especially from data centers needed to support AI technologies.

Although the Trump administration announced a series of executive orders and regulatory changes aimed at promoting broader nuclear energy use, nuclear power plants require years of planning and construction, and often face significant delays and cost overruns.

Chris Gadomski, head of nuclear power analysis at BloombergNEF, wrote in the report: "We expect a steady and sustainable growth scenario in nuclear capacity and generation, even though we recognize that projects rarely, if ever, proceed according to their defined timelines."

Data Center Demand Exceeds Reactor Capacity

Currently, there are 417 reactors in operation worldwide, with a total capacity of about 377 gigawatts. The nuclear industry has seen a resurgence over the past few years, initially due to increasing interest in reactors as a tool to combat climate change, and lately as a source of energy for data centers. Typically, the capacity of a single traditional reactor is about one gigawatt.

In the United States alone, data centers are expected to need up to 106 gigawatts of energy by 2035, up from 35 gigawatts in 2024, according to BloombergNEF. However, it remains unclear whether this slow-moving nuclear industry will be able to meet that demand.

Gadomski added: "Unless the nuclear energy sector moves quickly, it will miss the opportunity in favor of fossil fuels and other renewable sources."