Global nuclear energy use to triple by 2060, IAEA chief says

Rafael Grossi, Director General of the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency, has said that global nuclear energy use is set to triple by 2060.

In the agency’s annual report to the UN General Assembly, Grossi explained that this growth is being driven by the shift toward electrification, the expansion of AI-powered data centers, and technology companies’ pursuit of reliable, carbon-free energy.

He noted that a growing number of countries now view nuclear power as essential for strengthening their energy security, emphasizing that it is on par with solar energy and "safer than any other option."

Grossi added that more than 400 operational nuclear reactors in over 30 countries generated about 10% of global electricity and a quarter of low-carbon electricity in 2025, with over 60 new reactors under construction and a significant increase in future nuclear capacity projections.