평일 매일, 국내외 원자력 뉴스 3건 요약
ATM No 152 2025 NOV 14
Nuclear power is making a comeback, says IEA
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) projects global nuclear power capacity will grow by at least one‑third by 2035, driven by advances in small modular reactors (SMRs) and rising electricity demand from data centers and AI.
- More than 40 countries now include nuclear in their energy strategies, with over 70 GW under construction and pledges to triple capacity by 2050.
- Achieving this goal would require annual investment to peak at around $210 billion by 2035, positioning nuclear as a key source of stable, low‑carbon electricity.
US ‘disappointed’ that Rolls-Royce will build UK’s first small modular reactors
- Keir Starmer’s Labour government has announced that the UK’s first small modular reactors (SMRs) will be built at Wylfa in north Wales by Rolls‑Royce, backed by £2.5bn in investment.
- The decision sparked criticism from the US ambassador and Trump administration, which had hoped Westinghouse would be chosen after signing an $80bn deal to build larger reactors.
- While the UK sees the project as a flagship for homegrown clean energy and jobs, unions warn that smaller reactors may create fewer opportunities, and future large reactor sites in Scotland could reignite political tensions.
3년 멈춘 고리 2호기, 3수 끝 수명 연장 “AI강국 위해 원전 필요”
- 원자력안전위원회가 고리 2호기의 수명 연장을 승인하면서 AI 산업 전력 수요와 국가 온실가스 감축 목표 달성을 위해 원전 계속운전 필요성이 강조되고 있다.
- 이번 결정은 고리 3·4호기 등 다른 노후 원전들의 연장 심의에도 영향을 줄 것으로 보이나, 승인 지연 시 실제 가동 기간이 줄어드는 제도적 한계가 있다.
- 한편 환경단체는 국민 안전을 외면한 결정이라며 강하게 반발하고 있어 향후 정책 추진 과정에서 갈등이 예상된다.