Almost one-quarter of global electricity could be generated from nuclear power by 2050, which would significantly contribute to cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the International Energy Agency (IEA) stated.

A joint study by IEA and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) showed that such an expansion would require nuclear generating capacity to more than triple over the next 40 years, a target described as "ambitious", but "achievable".

Nuclear generating capacity worldwide is currently at 370 GW electrical, providing 14% of global electricity.

The study showed that nuclear power should grow to 1 200 GW electrical to cut energy-related carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions by 50% by 2050, providing 24% of global electricity at the time.

IEA executive director Nobuo Tanaka said that nuclear energy was one of the key low-carbon energy technologies that could contribute, alongside energy efficiency, renewable energies and carbon capture and storage, to the decarbonisation of the electricity supply by 2050.

NEA director-general Luis Echávarri said that nuclear was already one of the main sources of low-carbon energy in 2010. "If we can address the challenges to its further expansion, nuclear has the potential to play a larger role in cutting CO₂ emissions."

The road map found that nuclear power was a mature, low-carbon technology that was ready to expand rapidly over the coming decades. "The latest reactor designs, now under construction around the world, build on over 50 years of technology development."

However, the study emphasised that these designs would need to be fully established as reliable and competitive electricity generators over the next few years if they were to become the mainstays of nuclear expansion after 2020.

No major technological breakthroughs would be needed to achieve the level of nuclear expansion envisaged, the road map found. However, important policy-related, industrial, financial and public acceptance barriers to the rapid growth of nuclear power remained a challenge.

The map set out an action plan with steps that would need to be taken by governments, industry and others to overcome these. "A clear and stable policy commitment to nuclear energy as part of the overall energy strategy is a prerequisite, as is gaining greater public acceptance for nuclear programmes," stated the study.

Further, the study noted that progress in implementing plans for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste would also be vital and that the international system of safeguards to prevent the proliferation of nuclear technology and materials must be maintained and strengthened where ever necessary.

Financing the construction of new nuclear plants was expected to be a major challenge in many countries. "In some cases, governments may need to support nuclear investment through measures such as loan guarantees until nuclear power programmes were well established."

The industrial capacities and skilled human resources necessary to build, operate and maintain nuclear plants would also need to be increased over the next few years if nuclear was to expand rapidly, stated the road map.

"For the longer term, the continued development of reactor and fuel cycle technologies would be important for maintaining the competitiveness of nuclear energy," concluded the study.