This week, leaders from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to an industry where the U.S. is an emerging leader and discuss one of the most promising solutions to our growing and shifting energy needs: nuclear energy.
Global energy demand is anticipated to grow over 50% in the next 30 years: How do we get there together?
This week, leaders from around the world gathered in Washington, D.C. to draw attention to an industry where the U.S. is an emerging leader and discuss one of the most promising solutions to our growing and shifting energy needs: nuclear energy.
At the IAEA Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, the focus has been be on the role that nuclear energy, particularly around U.S. providers, can play in mitigating climate change, and the heightened urgency on the matter given geopolitical realities and the impacts of climate change on global energy security.
More directly, if we want to reach net zero by 2050, we must consider nuclear as an uninterruptable clean-energy companion to renewable sources like wind and solar. Advanced nuclear energy has long been promised as the strongest way to reduce carbon emissions. It is the best and fastest way to meet the needs of all high-heat industries to drive deep decarbonization across the planet and the U.S. and global economies.
Nuclear currently contributes nearly one-fifth of all electricity generated in the U.S. and is the biggest single source of power that does not directly create carbon emissions. And, new innovative technology advancements make nuclear poised to play an even greater role in fighting climate change while still providing enough power to sustain growing demand across industries.
At X-energy, we are rising to that challenge. Earlier this month we broke ground on the first commercial advanced nuclear fuel facility to be built in North America. And in doing so we are helping build a more robust and secure energy supply chain which is critical to supporting the diversification and deployment of nuclear energy on an historic scale.
To be clear, there is no silver bullet solution that solves for climate change. That is why it is important to have an ‘all options on the table’ approach which can address our most pressing energy and environmental concerns. For example, it’s no longer renewables or nuclear – it’s renewables and nuclear. While solar and wind energy power generation are limited by the time of day and weather conditions, nuclear power generation is 24/7. The transition to net-zero should not be limited by cloud cover, nighttime, and weather.
Nuclear can – and will - complement other renewable energy sources. Nuclear output can be adjusted to meet different levels of energy demand, and SMRs can be paired with renewables in a hybrid system. It is an emissions free and stable source of power that promotes geographic flexibility and energy independence.
This week, with leaders from around the world gathered in our nation’s capital, the emphasis was added to the fact that to meet climate goals while also increasing energy independence and reliability, nuclear must be and remain a central part of the conversation.
X-energy and the entire U.S. nuclear energy industry can do our part in mitigating climate change across the globe, putting reliable energy solutions in reach for countries, utilities, and communities, and bringing more security to the world.