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Nuclear power was once touted as the ultimate energy source, freeing mankind from reliance on dirty and expensive fossil energy. In the early 1950s there were Utopian visions of energy plenty and unbounded prosperity fuelled by cheap nuclear electricity and ever more rapid technological advance around the world. Contact with reality has reduced some of this enthusiasm. Seventy years on, nuclear power only supplies around 10% of global electricity (WNA 2021). There are still optimistic projections about the prospects for new nuclear power, but, in the main, it has been the new entrant, renewable energy, that has seen the most promise and growth, in particular, wind and solar energy. These sources, along with hydro, now supply around 27% of global electricity (REN21 2021). There are projections that they could continue to expand to supply 50% by 2030, and perhaps almost all electricity needs globally by around 2050. Some countries have actually already reached 50% or more, but the very high global projections may be overblown, much as the early projections for nuclear power were. However, since, once again, we are being offered some impressive visions of what technology can do, it may perhaps be helpful to look at what went wrong (and right) last time, with nuclear power. This may help us to put renewables in perspective and also to make a better, more robust assessment of the role that nuclear power might play in the future.
Introduction: the nuclear vision
Nuclear innovation: the early days
New brooms–in the 2000s
Progress in the 2020s
Nuclear power revisited
Conclusions: the way ahead
Appendix 1: Public opposition to nuclear power
Appendix 2: Nuclear and renewables—the basics compared
Further reading, contacts, and videos

Textbook in PDF format

Nuclear power was once touted as the ultimate energy source, freeing mankind from reliance on dirty and expensive fossil energy. In the early 1950s there were Utopian visions of energy plenty and unbounded prosperity fuelled by cheap nuclear electricity and ever more rapid technological advance around the world. Contact with reality has reduced some of this enthusiasm. Seventy years on, nuclear power only supplies around 10% of global electricity (WNA 2021). There are still optimistic projections about the prospects for new nuclear power, but, in the main, it has been the new entrant, renewable energy, that has seen the most promise and growth, in particular, wind and solar energy. These sources, along with hydro, now supply around 27% of global electricity (REN21 2021). There are projections that they could continue to expand to supply 50% by 2030, and perhaps almost all electricity needs globally by around 2050. Some countries have actually already reached 50% or more, but the very high global projections may be overblown, much as the early projections for nuclear power were. However, since, once again, we are being offered some impressive visions of what technology can do, it may perhaps be helpful to look at what went wrong (and right) last time, with nuclear power. This may help us to put renewables in perspective and also to make a better, more robust assessment of the role that nuclear power might play in the future.
Introduction: the nuclear vision
Nuclear innovation: the early days
New brooms–in the 2000s
Progress in the 2020s
Nuclear power revisited
Conclusions: the way ahead
Appendix 1: Public opposition to nuclear power
Appendix 2: Nuclear and renewables—the basics compared
Further reading, contacts, and videos