Serbia planning first nuclear capacity by 2042

According to the first World Nuclear Outlook report, presented by the World Nuclear Association (WNA) in Davos, Serbia plans to have its first 250 megawatts of nuclear capacity on the power grid by 2042, which, according to WNA estimates, would most likely mean the construction of one small modular reactor (SMR).

The report notes that Serbia lifted a decades-long moratorium on nuclear energy at the end of 2023, opening the way for considering nuclear energy as part of the future energy mix. After the initial plant, a relatively rapid growth in capacity is planned – according to WNA, Serbia could increase its installed nuclear capacity to 1,200 megawatts by 2049.

The document also states that in March 2024, Serbia requested assistance from countries with expertise in financing and building small modular reactors, indicating that international cooperation is being considered as a key element of future projects.

The broader context of the report shows that national plans around the world are extremely ambitious. According to WNA estimates, global nuclear capacity could reach as much as 1,446 gigawatts by 2050, well above the 1,200 gigawatt target set at COP28. However, achieving this target requires a construction rate that is approximately double the historical maximum from the 1980s.

The WNA warns that political goals must be translated into realistic and feasible plans, with the extension of the operating life of existing reactors, reform of the electricity market and the urgent strengthening of human and industrial capacities. A particular challenge is the fact that a significant part of the planned new capacity at the global level still does not have concrete projects.

World Nuclear Outlook

World Nuclear Association

nuclear power plant