Nuclear power reactors, reactor types and technologies | IAEA Nuclear power reactors produce energy by initiating and controlling a sustained nuclear chain reaction Currently, over 400 such reactors in 32 countries provide about 10 per cent of the world’s electricity The IAEA fosters an international information exchange and collaboration on technological innovations in different reactor technologies
What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? | IAEA Small modular reactors (SMRs) are advanced nuclear reactors that have a power capacity of up to 300 MW (e) per unit, which is about one-third of the generating capacity of traditional nuclear power reactors
What are Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs)? | IAEA Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are nuclear fission reactors in which either the fuel and or the coolant is a molten salt Molten salt is salt which liquifies at elevated temperatures and can store massive amounts of thermal energy at atmospheric pressure When used as fuel the molten salt is dissolved with fissile material
Small Modular Reactors: Advances in SMR Developments 2024 This publication aims to provide Member States with a concise overview of the latest developments regarding SMR technology worldwide It explores SMRs under development, their potential growth trajectory, and the lifecycle of SMR development from concept to decommissioning It also examines the
What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power What is the Nuclear Fuel Cycle? The nuclear fuel cycle is an industrial process involving various steps to produce electricity from uranium in nuclear power reactors The cycle starts with the mining of uranium and ends with the disposal of nuclear waste
Nuclear research reactors | IAEA Research reactors are nuclear reactors used for research, development, education and training They produce neutrons for use in industry, medicine, agriculture and forensics, among others
Fast-neutron reactors, Fast nuclear reactors | IAEA Sodium cooled fast reactors, lead and lead–bismuth cooled fast reactors and gas cooled fast reactors are currently being developed at national and international levels in compliance with higher standards of safety, sustainability, economics, physical protection and proliferation resistance In addition, the molten salt fast reactor concept is being considered as a long term option
IAEA Releases Nuclear Power Data and Operating Experience for 2023 Nuclear power continued to generate almost 10 percent of the world’s electricity and a quarter of all low carbon electricity last year, according to the data, which are featured in two newly released annual IAEA publications: Nuclear Power Reactors in the World (RDS-2) and Operating Experience with Nuclear Power Stations in Member States (OPEX)
IAEA Outlook for Nuclear Power Increases for Fourth Straight Year . . . The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has revised up its annual projections for the expansion of nuclear power for a fourth successive year World nuclear capacity is now projected to increase by 2 5 times the current capacity by 2050, in the IAEA’s high case scenario, including a
Nuclear Power Reactors in the World | IAEA This is the 43rd edition of Reference Data Series No 2, which presents the most recent reactor data available to the IAEA It contains summarized information as of the end of 2022 on power reactors operating, under construction and shut down as well as performance data on reactors operating in the IAEA Member States