The harsh winter at the turn of 2021 has made the case for nuclear power stronger than ever, writes Masakazu Toyoda, CEO and chairman of the Institute of Energy Economics in Japan.

Low-carbon technologies are more competitive than the fossil fuel options for electricity generation, which is good news for governments wanting to move towards low-carbon systems. But electricity is not the end of the story, says Dr Henri Paillere, head of the Planning and Economics Studies Section of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The Republic of Ireland has a legislative ban on nuclear power, but the climate emergency is an opportunity to look with fresh eyes at this untapped potential. 18for0 estimates that introducing 18% nuclear energy to the country's electricity mix could eliminate fossil fuels from the power sector and achieve decarbonisation by 2037. 18for0 is a group of professionals, all volunteers, concerned about the credibility of Ireland's current proposals to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Jerry Waugh, one of its members, describes the group's preliminary study on how this could be achieved.

Access to affordable, technology-neutral financing is essential if energy-poor countries are to enjoy the benefits of nuclear power in the way the Western world already does, World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León told the Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum today. The following is her statement to the panel titled Delivering energy access in the developing world.

Nuclear science and non-power nuclear applications have never been more important, writes Dr. Yuri Seleznev, rector of Rosatom Technical Academy (Rosatom Tech).

"It would not be a stretch to describe 2020 as an unforgettable year, with the on-going coronavirus pandemic having caused tremendous suffering and economic hardship across the world, and turning everyone's life upside down," writes World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León. "But this year has shown us that we can come together as a global community to fight a common adversary." Bilbao y León took over the reins of the London-headquartered organisation in October.

The European Commission aims to be a model for promoting sustainable development, building on its demonstrated success in being a low-carbon region among developed countries, but the EU Taxonomy could damage that ambition, writes Philippe Costes, senior adviser at World Nuclear Association.

The case for nuclear as a proven source of clean, reliable and sustainable electricity supply should be clear to all, but the business case for nuclear is also becoming better understood, World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León told delegates at the New Nuclear Capital 2020 virtual conference yesterday. The following is an abridged version of her presentation.

The UK government announced this week its invitation to local communities to put forward proposals to host the country's prototype fusion energy power plant. The successful site will be home to the construction of STEP - the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production - that is targeted for completion by 2040. At a media briefing ahead of the government's announcement, Professor Ian Chapman, CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, explained why this is an exciting prospect for the whole world.

Effective leadership has always been the key differentiator between marginal and exceptional performance. Now more than ever, those in management roles from first line to senior managers across every key function at nuclear plants and facilities worldwide, need to provide strong, inspirational leadership and a clear direction for their workforce, writes Ingemar Engkvist, CEO of the World Association of Nuclear Operators.

Innovation goes beyond gadgets to touch entire energy systems, World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León told delegates at the General Chair’s Special Session of the American Nuclear Society's Winter Meeting yesterday. The session, titled Nuclear Science and Industry: The next transformation, featured a panel of science and industry experts discussing how innovation is transforming both the current fleet of reactors and preparing for a future with advanced reactors, integrated systems, and smarter grids. The following is the text of her speech.

The world needs countries, such as Brazil, to step up and lead the way by expanding their nuclear capacity to help contribute to a sustainable energy future, said Agneta Rising, former director general of World Nuclear Association. She was speaking ahead of the World Nuclear University Short Course World Nuclear Industry Today to be held online in Brazil next week.