Nuclear power is currently one of the most significant alternative electricity-generation sources worldwide. However, despite considerable technological and safety advancements, concerns continue to be raised by the public and various experts as to its safety. It is clear, however, that nuclear power investments in both capital and innovations will continue, and that nuclear power will ultimately become a major part of the global non-carbon-burning energy solution of the future.

Nuclear power is now the largest source of energy production free of greenhouse gas emissions. To put this into perspective, two thousand tons of solid waste is generated by nuclear power plants in the United States each year, while one hundred million tons of sludge and ash are generated by coal power plants. Nuclear power investments, in terms of both capital and technological advancements, can help to reduce our dependence on carbon-based fuels, and may also stand to generate positive returns on investments.

The importance and growth of the nuclear industry can be seen in the statistics. While France leads nuclear production with 75% of its electricity from nuclear, and the U.S. stands at 20%, other countries are beginning to rapidly expand their capabilities, most notably China. There are 441 reactors in the world and 60 under construction. Just 13 nuclear plants operate in China today, versus 104 in the U.S., and until recently the Chinese were building only one or two reactors a decade. China is now building 24 facilities, accounting for close to half the reactors under construction worldwide, versus one for the U.S. According to a consultant on nuclear systems, the Chinese are ready to spend $511 billion to build up to 245 reactors in the intermediate term. Nuclear power companies with the capacity to meet Chinese demand, as well as demand worldwide, are positioned to benefit greatly from this continued growth.

“China is preparing to build three times as many nuclear power plants in the coming decade as the rest of the world combined…” The New York Times, December 15, 2009

“China plans to increase its nuclear capacity to at least 70 or 80 GW by [2020], which will require at least 6 new reactors coming online every year between now and then…” China National Energy Administration, February 1, 2010

“In June 2010, the China Nuclear Energy Association projected 200 GWe nuclear by 2030 and 400 GWe by 2050.” Nuclear Power in China, World Nuclear Association