Potential Applications for Nuclear Energy

Overview of potential applications for nuclear energy (WP1 Task 1.1)

Many know nuclear energy only from electricity generation, but nuclear has much wider applications. This report explores these opportunities through a literature review of electricity generation, heat-only uses, and hybrid applications. Special attention was given to sectors where energy demand is steady, large-scale, and suitable for outputs of tens to hundreds of megawatts.

The report also assesses the current European energy system and its projected changes. Future energy demand in Europe is shaped by major structural changes. Green transition demands new industrial processes, the overall energy use is expected to decline in Europe due to efficiency gains, sustainability focus, and a shift toward high-tech. The service sector is the only sector with clear projected growth, though. At the same time, the energy mix is electrifying, combustion-based fuels are in decline, and the growing share of renewables is increasing overall variability.

Key Potential Nuclear Applications

• District Heating – Strong potential due to continuous demand and suitable temperature ranges.
• Desalination – Matches well with nuclear energy’s steady and large-scale heat/power supply.
• Data Centres – Require highly reliable electricity and cooling, both possible from nuclear.
• Industrial Clusters – Aggregated demand across facilities could align with reactor scale, particularly in chemicals and process industries.
• Propulsion – Niche but significant roles in shipping and space remain.

Overall Conclusions

Nuclear energy’s best prospects lie where demand is continuous, large, and centralized. District heating, desalination, data centres, and industrial clusters appear most promising, while shipping and space remain niche applications. However, declining industrial energy demand and growing electrification will shape the overall market context for deployment.

However, sector-specific challenges remaining and the competing technologies are advancing as well. In the chemical industry, integration is constrained by high-temperature needs and interconnected processes. In food & beverage and agriculture, demand is often too small in scale. Nuclear propulsion in shipping and space remains feasible but limited in scope. At the same time, industrial heat pumps are advancing rapidly and providing much higher temperature heat than previous heat pump technologies strengthening them as competitors to nuclear for medium-temperature heat.

For more information, do not hesitate to contact

Tomi Lindroos at Tomi.J.Lindroos@vtt.fi

You can read the whole report in the Downloads section or on this link.