At the 26th World Energy Congress, held in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, the future prospects of the nuclear sector were discussed. The event brought together 70 ministers from 150 countries, including the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Mariano Grossi.
Grossi noted that the technology sector could become a new market for advanced nuclear technologies. According to the International Energy Agency, electricity consumption from data centers, artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies is only 2% of global consumption, but it is expected to increase by 2026.
The congress also featured a session organized by the Asian Development Bank on the role of integrated energy planning and financing of clean energy projects in the Asia-Pacific region.
The IAEA together with the Directorate for Nuclear Energy of the Ministry of Economy and Climate Policy of the Netherlands, the Institute for Electricity Research, the UN Economic Commission for Europe and the World Nuclear Association held an event dedicated to the challenges and opportunities of the sector in the coming years, in particular, in the context of achieving net zero by mid-century.
