What will it take for the nuclear sector to succeed in meeting growing energy demands?
Stuart: “The sense of optimism across the nuclear sector right now is undeniable. We are entering what many describe as a new golden era for nuclear – but delivering on that promise requires overcoming some significant challenges.
Today, nuclear provides around 10% of global electricity, yet demand for clean, reliable power is accelerating rapidly, driven not only by industrial growth but also by the exponential rise of data centers and digital infrastructure. The need is clear, but time is critical.
Scaling up means building capacity across the entire ecosystem – from technology developers to the supply chain – so we can deliver multiple projects in parallel, whether that’s SMRs, AMRs, or large gigawatt-scale reactors. For these first- and second-of-a-kind projects, adopting a ‘best-for-project’ mindset will be essential. We must focus on de-risking the critical path to reach Final Investment Decision (FID) faster and with greater certainty, because that is what keeps investor confidence high and unlocks the transition to fleet-scale deployment.
This isn’t something any one organisation can achieve alone. We need genuine collaboration and knowledge-sharing across partners, competitors, and borders to avoid stagnating in first-generation solutions and instead unlock the large-scale deployment the world needs. At WSP, we bring deep experience in navigating these complexities – not just in nuclear, but across major infrastructure programmes globally – helping clients accelerate delivery and manage risk at every stage.
The biggest takeaway for me is that success will demand patience, courage, and above all, real collaboration. If we commit to that, together we can turn this golden era for nuclear into reality.”
Can you tell us about the role and readiness of SMRs (Small Modular Reactors) as a part of the future of nuclear power?
Steve: “Being here at the World Nuclear Exhibition and meeting nearly 80 countries truly shows that we are facing a global breakthrough for nuclear power, especially with small modular reactors (SMRs) which are generating the most discussion right now. SMRs are not just a technical innovation – they are key to meeting future energy needs in a flexible and scalable way.
In the US, WSP has already supported 15 new SMR projects in the past five years, and that’s just the beginning. SMRs make it possible to quickly expand capacity where it’s needed, and they can be adapted for everything from electricity production to industrial heat and even hydrogen production.
I am convinced that nuclear power, both in SMR and larger utility-scale format, will play a crucial role in meeting the growing demand for clean, stable, and scalable energy – not least as data centers and advanced industries require more (and more) electricity. Nuclear power is the only energy source that can deliver continuous electricity on the scale needed for us to reach our carbon reduction goals and keep society running.
But for us to succeed in delivering what is demanded, we need to start today. We must invest in early design, fast permitting processes, build up the supply chain, and train the workforce. Effective project management and experience from large infrastructure projects is essential, as it allows standardization and digitization - reducing costs and lead times. It is also important that we at WSP tell our story – many do not know how much we actually contribute to nuclear development. With the right expertise, collaboration, and courage to invest in new technology, industry can facilitate SMRs and accelerate nuclear power into becoming a key part of the world’s future energy mix.”
The Nordics were well represented at the exhibition. What is shaping the future of nuclear power in the that region?
Jonas: “At the exhibition, the main topics of discussion were around opportunities and collaboration – not only regarding nuclear technical issues, but also about how traditional industry expertise can contribute to the development of nuclear power. Everyone here is highly motivated to work on these issues, whether it’s about historical waste, the need for more energy, or how to finance new production.
For large parts of the world, nuclear power is about how to reduce the need for fossil fuels in energy production. From a systems perspective, nuclear power is a key component. It is dispatchable, stable, and contributes to frequency regulation, which is crucial in a power system to support the expansion of renewable, weather-dependent production. It is one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources in Europe, and the EU has clearly indicated that nuclear power is part of the green transition.
In the Nordics, we have a slightly different position, as we already have virtually fossil-free electricity production through renewables together with nuclear power. But the need for more reliable and continuous energy is growing rapidly, especially as the electrification of society increases and industry needs to both maintain existing facilities, invest in new technology, and be able to supply energy to energy-intensive facilities such as data centers and producers of fossil-free steel. Here, nuclear power will continue to play an important role even in the Nordic countries.
Against this background, there are several technical paths forward. Conventional large-scale reactors offer proven technology and high output, while SMR (Small Modular Reactors) provide flexibility, shorter construction time, and the possibility of serial production. The choice of reactor type depends on factors such as location, permitting conditions, investment model, and specific needs. In Sweden, Vattenfall has chosen to proceed with conventional SMR technology from GE Vernova and Rolls-Royce at Ringhals, while Fortum continues to investigate large-scale reactors and SMR in both Sweden and Finland. Together with the French energy giant EDF, WSP is also exploring opportunities for new nuclear construction in the Swedish and Finnish markets.
Meanwhile, in Europe, we see that France is planning several new reactors and Poland has advanced with both SMR projects and large-scale reactors. Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Bulgaria, and the Baltics also have concrete plans.
Moving forward, collaboration and a focus on innovation, quality, and efficient delivery will be critical to ensuring that nuclear power remains a stable and sustainable part of the future energy system.”
What opportunities and challenges lie ahead for next-generation technologies?
Anthony: “The advantages, and opportunity, has become clear to many people – as you could see by the turnout at the exhibition. We can make nuclear power a sustainable energy source that will literally check off all the ESG goals. At the same time, it provides independence and reduces our reliance on other, geopolitically less stable countries’ fossil fuels.
The industry is in an exciting time of innovation, which contributes to the positive spirit. With new Generation IV technology, we are on the way to developing replacements for today’s third-generation reactors. The goal is to create systems that are safer, sustainable, economically competitive, and also, resistant to the proliferation of nuclear weapons material.
There is talk of Gas-cooled Fast Reactors, Lead-cooled Fast Reactors, Molten Salt Reactors, Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors, and so on. It would be valuable for those working in industry to take a step back and reflect on how to solve the challenges these decisions will entail in the future.
In theory, there are as many different fuels as there are different SMR projects, but how should these fuels be produced, transported, and managed after use? These are questions we do not yet have answers to. But what we didn’t know about the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel when reactors started being built in the 1950/60s, we have learned along the way. Today, WSP is involved in many projects where we are designing how to best take care of our radioactive waste. We will continue innovate and find the solutions for an energy secure future.”
