A year and a half after the major nuclear accident on 11th of March 2011 in Fukushima, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released their predictions for the future world nuclear power generating capacity. In comparison with last year’s projections, the reported numbers are between eight and sixteen percent lower that the estimates made before the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
In a report published on their website, the IAEA indicate that it is possible for the overall capacity to grow between 25 and 100 percent by year 2030, however this will be determined by the stat of the global economic market.
Although the forecasts predict an increase in nuclear power generation, the rate with which this will be happening would be much lower than anticipated last year. Initially the capacity was expected to increase with 456 to 740 gigawatts by 2030, while the predictions now report values of 370 GW. As an indication, these predictions in 2010 showed an anticipated growth of 546-803 GW, while in 2011, the figures dropped down to the range of 501-746 GW.
On a global scale, major developments in this sector are expected to take place in Asia, particularly in China and Soth Korea. In Europe, the agency foresees major drops on the marker, since three of the leading countries- Germany, Switzerland and Belgium, have decided to withdraw from nuclear power, following the accident.
Via: Reuters
