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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.

Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

FACT BRIEF

Is nuclear power's share of electricity production expected to increase significantly?

Monday, April 4, 2022

By Jacob Alabab-Moser

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Nuclear energy generated around 10% of the world's electricity in 2020, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA's "high case projection" says nuclear power could contribute about 12% of global electricity by 2050. The "low case scenario" says nuclear could decline to about 6% of total electricity generation.

Any increase in nuclear energy is expected to come from abroad, in countries like China and India. In the U.S., where the number of nuclear power plants has steadily declined since the 1990s, nuclear's share of electricity production is projected to decline from 19% today to 12% in 2050, according to the Energy Information Administration.

Experts debate the role of nuclear in reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Nuclear's minimal space requirements and capacity to produce electricity 24/7 make it an attractive option. However, high expenses and long construction times render new plants distant and uncertain prospects.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.

Sources

International Atomic Energy Agency IAEA Increases Projections for Nuclear Power Use in 2050

US Energy Information Administration EIA projects that renewable generation will supply 44% of U.S. electricity by 2050

Statista Number of nuclear power plants in the United States from 1957 to 2021

National Geographic The controversial future of nuclear power in the US

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Gigafact

Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.

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About fact briefs published on Gigafact

Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.