What is New Nuclear?
For much of the public, nuclear energy is associated with the large-scale reactor designs of the 20th century. These facilities were engineered in a different regulatory, economic and geopolitical context, often centralised, capital-intensive and built using bespoke construction models.
“New nuclear” refers to a fundamentally different generation of technologies now being developed and deployed globally.
These systems are designed for modern energy systems and are shaped by electrification, decarbonisation and energy security considerations.
Small modular reactors
Compact reactors designed to be factory-built and assembled on site.
Their modular construction model aims to reduce construction risk, lower capital exposure and improve scalability.
Microreactors
Very small, transportable reactors capable of delivering reliable power to remote communities, defence installations or industrial sites.
Generation IV Systems
Generation IV Systems
Advanced reactor designs incorporating passive safety systems, alternative coolants and improved fuel cycles to enhance efficiency and reduce waste volumes.
Generation IV International Forum is coordinating research into several of these next-generation designs.
Passive Safety
Modular Construction
Modular Construction
Many advanced designs rely on natural physical processes such as gravity or convection, rather than active mechanical systems to maintain safe operation.
Modular Construction
Modular Construction
Modular Construction
Rather than constructing a single large reactor entirely on site, components can be manufactured in controlled factory environments and assembled in stages.
Grid Flexibility
Grid Flexibility
Grid Flexibility
New nuclear systems are being designed to integrate alongside renewables, providing firm low-emissions power that supports grid stability.
Advanced Fuels
Grid Flexibility
Grid Flexibility
Some designs aim to improve fuel efficiency and reduce long-term waste management challenges.
Advanced nuclear is no longer theoretical.
Countries including Canada, United Kingdom, France, South Korea and United States are actively investing in or deploying advanced nuclear technologies as part of long-term energy and industrial strategies.
International organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency are supporting research, regulatory cooperation and deployment pathways for emerging designs.
The global conversation has shifted from “whether” nuclear should exist to “how” advanced systems can contribute to secure, low-emissions energy systems.
Why language matters
Public debate often treats nuclear energy as a single, static concept. In reality, reactor technology has evolved continuously for decades.
The term “new nuclear” reflects:
• Technological innovation
• Modern engineering standards
• Contemporary safety design
• Integration with renewables
• Alignment with climate and energy security objectives
It acknowledges that energy systems are changing and that nuclear technology has changed with them.
