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Ageing Nuclear Reactors Threaten Global Capacity Expansion Plans
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News18•19-10-2026, 14:00
Ageing Nuclear Reactors Threaten Global Capacity Expansion Plans
- •The IAEA Nuclear Technology Review 2026 warns that an ageing global nuclear fleet could complicate future capacity expansion plans.
- •About 67 percent of global nuclear capacity has operated for over 30 years, and 41 percent for more than 40 years.
- •Future growth depends on balancing investments in new reactor construction with maintaining and extending the operational lives of existing plants.
- •Global nuclear power performance remained strong with a global load factor reaching 93 percent in 2025 despite the ageing fleet.
- •At the end of 2025, 218 power reactors were shut down for decommissioning, highlighting financial and technical challenges for countries with limited resources.
Key Questions Answered
According to the IAEA's Nuclear Technology Review 2026, about 67% of global nuclear power capacity, representing 293 reactors and 263.9 gigawatts of electrical capacity, has operated for over 30 years.
Global nuclear capacity remained relatively stable over the past decade, increasing from 370.2 gigawatts in 2016 to 379.9 gigawatts in 2025, with approximately 61.4 gigawatts of new capacity connected to grids worldwide.
By the end of 2025, a total of 218 power reactors across 21 Member States were shut down for decommissioning, out of which 23 units were fully decommissioned.
