WNISR2025 – “Small Modular Reactors: current status, open issues”
On 22 September 2025 Kyoto Club has co-hosted in Rome the global launch of The World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR) 2025, whose conclusions have been:
The slow decline of the nuclear industry continues. Most indicators are on the decline or have reached the historic peak many years ago. Compared to mid-2024:
- The number of countries operating power reactors declined from 32 to 31.
- The number of countries building new power reactors dropped from 13 to 11.
While global nuclear power generation reached a new historic maximum in 2024, the result is exclusively due to the buildup in China. Outside China, nuclear production was on the level
of the mid-1990s.
- The share of nuclear power in the electricity mix has been declining since 1996.
- No Small Modular Reactor (SMR) is operating/under construction in the Western world.
Annual global nuclear power capacity additions are in the single-digit gigawatt range while wind, solar, and storage add double- and triple-digit gigawatt capacities to the grid (and behind the meter). Last year’s global launch presentation concluded with this sentence: “Especially solar plus storage might rapidly turn into a global changemaker in the energy equation.” It appears to have happened already.
SMRs are a key aspect also in the Italian nuclear energy discussion – the webinar with two 20-minute presentations by M.V. Ramana and Tim Judson, the WNISR 2025 SMRs contributors will present both the current status and open issues, followed by a 20-minute Q&A session.
The webinar, in English with no translation, will be moderated by Angela Pagano, Head of Kyoto Club’s institutional relations.
To participate please register on the link https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5662342399352542302 providing your name, family name and e-mail address at the latest by Thursday January 29 at 11:00 a.m. CET.
For any additionally needed information please contact: informazioni@kyotoclub.org
