• Shortages of experienced nuclear engineering talent π www. valve-world. net Valve World October 2026
NUCLEAR
Nuclear power’ s renaissance
As the world accelerates toward a new era of nuclear energy, Baker Hughes stands strategically positioned to help utilities, reactor developers, and
EPC firms overcome the challenges of building the next generation of nuclear power plants.
By Hari Nair, Power Industry Director and Michael Moreau, Nuclear Industry Director for Baker Hughes, Flow Control &
Safety Solutions
A global nuclear revival
The nuclear power industry is experiencing its most significant resurgence in decades. Driven by growing electricity demand, energy security concerns, decarbonization goals, and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and hyperscale data centers, governments and private investors around the world are once again turning to nuclear energy as a cornerstone of future power generation. While countries such as China, India, South Korea, and Russia have consistently invested in expanding their nuclear fleets over the past two decades, many Western nations slowed or postponed new nuclear developments due to lower electricity demand growth and the substantial capital investment required for large-scale nuclear projects. That trend is now changing dramatically. The increasing integration of renewable energy into national grids has heightened the need for reliable, carbon-free baseload generation. At the same time, geopolitical concerns and energy security priorities have reinforced the strategic importance of domestic nuclear power generation. The result is a renewed wave of investment in both conventional large-scale reactors and emerging Small Modular Reactor( SMR) technologies. Industry projections underscore the scale of this opportunity. The International Atomic Energy Agency( IAEA) and the International
Masoneilan 41005 Series turbine bypass to condenser nuclear control valve. Image courtesy of Baker Hughes.
Continental Disc HPX ® rupture disc assembly. Image courtesy of Baker Hughes.
Energy Agency( IEA) foresee global nuclear generating capacity potentially doubling by 2050, reaching approximately 650 GW. Nearly 100 GW of new nuclear capacity is expected to be added by 2035, with the majority coming from large reactors exceeding 1 GW per unit. In parallel, multiple SMR designs are progressing toward commercialization, with the first wave of deployments anticipated between 2030 and 2035. Traditional reactor suppliers such as Westinghouse Electric Company( WEC), Electricité de France( EDF), Korea Electric Power Corporation( KEPCO) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power( KHNP), China National Nuclear Corporation( CNNC) and China General Nuclear Power Group( CGN), are expected to play major roles in these large-scale developments, while a growing ecosystem of innovative companies is advancing next-generation SMR technologies. Together, they are reshaping the global nuclear landscape.
Growing demand creates new supply chain challenges
The resurgence of nuclear power presents tremendous opportunities for reactor developers, utilities, and nuclear suppliers, but it also exposes significant supply chain constraints. Demand is increasing faster than many sectors of the nuclear supply chain can accommodate. Capacity limitations for large forgings, reactor vessels, specialized components, engineering resources, and Engineering, Procurement, and Construction( EPC) contractors are becoming increasingly evident. Nuclear-qualified manufacturers and certified suppliers are facing increasing pressure as project pipelines continue to grow. Additional challenges include:
• Availability of code-compliant products and certified manufacturing facilities
• Capacity limitations among critical subsuppliers
• Shortages of experienced nuclear engineering talent π www. valve-world. net Valve World October 2026
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