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UK Poll Shows Nearly Half of Public Support Nuclear Energy Development

A new UK opinion poll shows that nearly half of respondents support the country's development of nuclear energy to address climate change and energy security challenges. Although public concerns over nuclear power plant safety persist, with growing awareness of the intermittency of renewable energy and rising calls to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, the role of nuclear energy in the UK's energy mix is attracting increasing attention. The survey results show that 48% of respondents consider nuclear energy an important component of achieving net-zero emission targets, while 29% hold opposing views. The main reasons for supporting nuclear energy include its reliability and low-carbon characteristics. Unlike renewable sources such as wind and solar, nuclear power plants...

2026-08-03

US Utility Xcel Energy's Nuclear Plant Life Extension Boosts Q2 Earnings Significantly

Xcel Energy, a multi-state regulated electric and gas utility headquartered in Minneapolis, USA, achieved significant earnings growth in the second quarter, primarily driven by reduced depreciation expenses resulting from extended operating lives of its nuclear power plants. The company extended the expected operating lives of its nuclear plants to 2050 and beyond, thereby lowering quarterly depreciation costs and positively impacting its financial performance. Despite a decline in operating revenues, net income still grew by 32% to $586 million, with diluted earnings per share rising from $0.75 to $0.93. The extension of nuclear plant operating lives does not imply an immediate increase in cash flow or power generation...

2026-08-03

Adani Group Enters Nuclear Power, India's Energy Landscape May See Transformation

The Adani Group plans to triple its power generation capacity by 2035, becoming the largest private power producer. Currently, feasibility studies at Bina and Nigari are progressing intensively, and the CEO of Adani Power has also hinted at related information. Although no official announcement has been made, the company has clearly stated that it is actively evaluating the relevant possibilities. At present, only two state-owned enterprises in India produce nuclear power: the Nuclear Power Corporation and NTPC Limited. The former plans to develop 30 GW of nuclear capacity, while the latter is also preparing to develop 30 GW. Adani Power has an operating capacity of over 3.2 GW and is currently conducting evaluations...

2026-08-02

Philippine Lawmaker Says Nuclear Energy Could Ease Power Supply Pressure in Western Visayas

Mark Cojuangco, chair of the House of Representatives Committee on Nuclear Energy and representative of the Second District of Pangasinan, said on July 29 that if the Philippines adopts nuclear energy technology, the Western Visayas region could gain access to lower-cost and more stable electricity supply. Cojuangco noted that Iloilo and other parts of Western Visayas still rely heavily on coal-fired power, and the repeated power supply issues in recent years indicate the region needs more reliable and cost-controllable energy options. He is one of the principal authors of the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act (Republic Act No. 12305), which establishes a legal framework for the safe use of nuclear energy in the Philippines and provides for...

2026-08-01

Changwon National University and Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute Join Forces to Promote Korea-Vietnam Nuclear Power Industry Synergy

Changwon National University announced that a delegation from the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute recently visited the university for in-depth discussions on the development of Vietnam's nuclear power industry and cooperation plans in the field of small modular reactors (SMRs). The delegation was led by Dr. Phan Viet Cuong, Deputy Director of VINATOM, among others. The visit came at a time when the Vietnamese government has been comprehensively promoting the introduction of SMRs as a core national energy strategy since 2024. Through the consultations, both sides reached a consensus on close cooperation to strengthen Vietnam's nuclear power technology competitiveness and foster the next-generation SMR industry. In particular, centered on Changwon National University's "SMR² Platform National Research Institute," customized educational programs will be operated for Vietnamese researchers and students...

2026-08-01

Illinois Restarts Nuclear Power in Bid to Address Energy Challenges

Illinois is actively exploring nuclear energy to address potential electricity shortages. Governor Pritzker signed an executive order requiring agencies to study adding at least 2 gigawatts of energy supply, enough to power 2 million homes or 20 large data centers. Earlier, in January of this year, the state passed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordable Act, lifting a nearly four-decade ban on building new large-scale nuclear plants. This move aims to ensure stability of power supply and affordability of prices, especially amid growing energy demand. Illinois's nuclear development is not without challenges. For a long time, the United States has lacked a solution for safely storing nuclear waste...

2026-08-02

Italy Moves to Approve Advanced Nuclear Legal Framework, Paving Way for Small Modular Reactors

Italy's parliament is expected to approve a bill next week establishing a legal framework for advanced nuclear technologies, covering next-generation nuclear solutions such as small modular reactors (SMRs). If passed, the bill would authorize the government to formulate specific rules within one year on reactor licensing, safety regulation, radioactive waste management, and site selection. Italy's Minister of Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, stated that the government's current responsibility is to create the necessary conditions so that entities responsible for future construction decisions can proceed in accordance with the law. In June this year, the Italian Chamber of Deputies...

2026-08-02

U.S. Team Traces Source of Anomalous Gamma Rays from Zinc-70, Nuclear Magnetic Transitions May Improve Models of Heavy Element Formation

An international research team led by scientists from the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB) at Michigan State University has recently identified the source of the large number of low-energy gamma rays emitted by zinc-70 nuclei. The study suggests that magnetic transitions occurring within the nucleus are the key reason for this anomalous signal enhancement. The findings were published in the journal Nature under the title "Magnetic character of the low-energy enhancement in 70Zn." Gamma rays are electromagnetic radiation released when excited atomic nuclei transition to lower, more stable energy levels. For a long time, scientists have observed an anomalous increase in the number of low-energy gamma rays in some atomic nuclei, known as the low-energy enhancement (LEE), but its physical mechanism had remained unclear...

2026-08-02

Korea and UAE Eye Joint Bid for Vietnam's Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Project

A South Korean team comprising the Korean government, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) is seeking cooperation with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to jointly compete for Vietnam's nuclear power project. The proposed plan aims to combine South Korea's experience in large-scale nuclear power plant construction with the UAE's financial strength to enhance both parties' competitiveness in the international nuclear power market. According to sources from South Korea's nuclear power industry, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) held a high-level meeting with Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) in Hanoi earlier this month, proposing a joint South Korea-UAE participation in the construction of Vietnam's Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Project. The Ninh Thuan nuclear power project is located in Ninh Thuan Province in central Vietnam, with plans to build four nuclear power units. In the early arrangements of the project, Russia planned to bid for the Ninh Thuan 1 Nuclear Power Project, while Japan planned to bid for the Ninh Thuan 2 Nuclear Power Project. After Japan withdrew and relinquished its preferential bidding rights, South Korea gained the opportunity to enter the competition for the project.

2026-08-01

Japan aims to rebuild up to 5 retired nuclear power plants by the 2040s

The Japanese government held a ministerial meeting on nuclear power on July 31 and decided to rebuild up to 5 retired nuclear power plants by the 2040s. This is the first time since the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident that the Japanese government has set a specific numerical target for nuclear plant reconstruction. Kansai Electric Power Company's Mihama Nuclear Power Plant Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae stated at the meeting that to steadily advance nuclear power investment, the Takaichi cabinet will continue to promote nuclear energy policy. According to the direction set at the meeting, Japan plans to rebuild 2 to 5 nuclear power plants by the 2040s, with a total installed capacity of approximately 2.2 million to 5.5 million kilowatts; by the 2050s, the reconstruction scale will expand to 11 to 14 plants, with a total installed capacity of approximately 12.7 million to 16 million kilowatts. The Japanese government plans to...

2026-08-01

Hefei Institute of Energy and Xianchu Nuclear Assembly Jointly Establish a Joint Laboratory for Tritium-Related Environmental Control Equipment for Fusion

On July 23, the Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, and Shijiazhuang Xianchu Nuclear Energy Equipment Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Xianchu Energy Development Group, held a signing ceremony in Hefei, Anhui Province, for the Joint Laboratory for Tritium-Related Environmental Control Equipment for Fusion. The collaboration will focus on the development of tritium-related environmental control equipment for nuclear fusion devices, advancing key technology breakthroughs and industrial applications. Hu Haomin, Deputy Director of the Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center; Chen Kun, Chairman of Xianchu Energy Development Group; Fang Yongsheng, Executive Deputy General Manager of Shijiazhuang Xianchu Nuclear Energy Equipment Co., Ltd.; and Zhao Xinhua, General Manager of China-Ukraine Xianchu Nuclear Energy Technology Co., Ltd., attended the signing ceremony. The Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive...

2026-08-01

South Korean University Team Files Patent for Fusion Reactor Optimization Design Method

Professor Hong Bong-geun of the Department of Quantum System Engineering at the College of Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, South Korea, has recently filed a patent for a fusion reactor optimization design method. This method can determine device dimensions and key component structures while enabling customized performance design for fusion reactors based on different applications such as power generation, thermal energy utilization, and transmutation neutron sources. According to reports, this design technology targets the early-stage R&D phase of fusion devices and can be used to rapidly assess the technical and economic feasibility of proposals, thereby reducing trial-and-error, shortening development cycles, and lowering development costs, providing design support for fusion energy commercialization...

2026-07-31

Kazakhstan's National Nuclear Center Experimental Base Supports Nuclear Power Safety and Advanced Energy Research

On July 30, Vyacheslav Gnyrya, Deputy Director of the Institute of Atomic Energy at the National Nuclear Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NNC RK), presented the development of the center's experimental research base. He stated that Kazakhstan is leveraging existing research facilities to establish a scientific foundation for next-generation reactor technologies and controlled thermonuclear fusion energy research. According to the presentation, the NNC RK experimental base is a strategic scientific research infrastructure developed over decades in Kazakhstan, featuring research reactors, specialized test facilities, and materials science equipment capable of simulating conditions difficult to replicate in operating nuclear reactors, including the behavior of nuclear fuel, structural materials, and safety system components under high temperatures, intense irradiation, and transient conditions.

2026-07-31

LHAASO "Sees" for the First Time How Black Holes Produce the Highest-Energy Particles in the Universe

How do black holes accelerate particles to the highest energies in the universe? The latest research provides the answer. On July 31, it was learned from the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences that the Large High Altitude Air Shower Observatory (LHAASO, "Lasso"), a major national scientific and technological infrastructure, has for the first time clearly observed the process by which a black hole, while devouring material from its companion star, regularly produces the highest-energy particles in the universe like a metronome, and has identified the first PeV gamma-ray variable source. The related research results were published in the *National Science Review*. Cygnus X-3 is a binary system located in the constellation Cygnus, consisting of a black hole and a massive companion star. The gravitational pull there is extremely strong, and the black hole frantically accretes the stellar wind blown off by its companion. LHAASO detected...

2026-07-31

IAEA Training Course for Owner/Operator Organizations of New Nuclear Power Projects Concludes in Russia

On July 30, the Interregional Training Course on the Establishment of Owner/Operator Organizations for New Nuclear Power Projects, jointly organized by Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), concluded at the Rosatom Technical Academy. Eighteen experts from 15 countries in Asia and Africa completed the five-day training. The participants were primarily from national nuclear energy institutions, regulatory bodies, and relevant competent authorities responsible for nuclear infrastructure development in their respective countries. The course focused on the establishment and capacity building of owner/operator organizations for new nuclear power projects, covering topics such as license applications, change management, feasibility study preparation, personnel competency development, organizational structure design, and contract management.

2026-07-31