Global nuclear investment must rise above $250 billion (£187bn) a year to meet growing electricity demand and triple generating capacity by 2050, according to the World Nuclear Association.
Its new investment guide estimates the sector represents a cumulative opportunity worth around $6 trillion (£4.5tn) over the next 25 years.
The Roadmap to Mainstream Finance sets out how nuclear could move away from bespoke, state-led funding and become a mainstream infrastructure asset backed by banks, pension funds and other institutional investors.
Investment will be needed not only for new reactors but across the nuclear fuel cycle, supply chains and supporting infrastructure required to deliver projects at scale.
The association said nuclear must expand beyond a handful of established markets if it is to strengthen energy security and support global decarbonisation.
Its roadmap identifies six conditions needed to attract capital: stronger institutional support, standardised business models, clearer risk and reward, market frameworks that properly value nuclear power, mature supply chains and mechanisms to move projects from development into operation.
It argues other capital-intensive industries including offshore wind and liquefied natural gas have followed similar paths when governments, developers and investors created common frameworks.
Dr Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of World Nuclear Association, said: “The challenge is not a shortage of capital. The challenge is creating the confidence, capability and investment architecture that allow capital to flow to nuclear projects at scale.“
Financial institutions are being urged to improve their understanding of nuclear, build teams capable of assessing projects and support clearer allocation of construction, regulatory and market risks.
Early transactions could then help establish the track record needed to unlock larger pools of private capital.
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