Nick Butler: Could invasion of Ukraine push the world towards a nuclear option?

Within a decade, nuclear power, alongside wind and solar, could undermine the global gas market, writes Nick Butler

Cooling towers at the Dampierre-en-Burly nuclear power plant in Dampierre-en-Burly, France. French President Emmanuel Macron announced before the recent presidential election that France would build up to 14 new nuclear reactors, starting in 2028.

Nuclear power has been in decline since the Fukushima disaster in Japan more than a decade ago, but it may be poised for a comeback. 

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and soaring natural gas prices have led some to argue that nuclear energy can help solve the twin challenges of energy security and climate change. Is the industry back in business, or will this prove to be another false dawn?