Ensuring the security of electricity supply and advancing towards net zero emissions will require large amounts of reliable low-carbon electricity generation capacity. As the only dispatchable low-carbon technology scalable at will, many consider nuclear energy to be an indispensable element of future clean electricity systems. Nuclear development and construction also generate positive spillovers such as maintaining skills and technological competency.

Under the right framework conditions, nuclear energy can be a highly profitable financial investment. The need for new nuclear capacity has been emphasised at the highest policymaking levels, including at the NEA Roadmaps to New Nuclear conference.

As the potential contribution of nuclear energy to the electricity sectors of the future is now widely recognised, attention shifts towards realising that potential. This requires addressing the twin challenges of financing and managing complex, multi-billion nuclear constructing projects in rapidly changing electricity systems. While the challenges are huge, they are also increasingly well understood and commensurate efforts are mobilised towards mastering them both at the national and international levels.

At the international level, the NEA, the IAEA and the IEA have all published in 2024 and 2025 reports that break down the overall challenges into manageable tasks and indicate potential solutions. Addressing construction and electricity price risk head-on will decisively strengthen the ability to attract private investment in nuclear new build. Once completed and insured against electricity price risk, nuclear baseload is uniquely well placed to benefit from the demand for low-carbon electricity around the clock and throughout the year.

The NEA webinar Building New Nuclear Capacity: Getting the Financing Right will bring together leading international experts on nuclear energy finance to present recent work and to identify what it takes to bring new nuclear construction projects to successful completion.