Global nuclear power generation will decline by 3 per cent from 2019 levels in 2020 due to the lockdowns imposed in the wake of the Covid-19 spread, according to International Energy Agency (IEA).
 
IEA said as part of its Global Energy Review 2020 report, "This decline would be the largest, not associated with a natural disaster and 40 per cent as large as the reduction in 2011 following the accident at Fukushima Daiichi."
 
It added depressed electricity demand will continue throughout 2020, drawing less on nuclear power along with all other dispatchable sources of electricity. The Covid-19 lockdown measures have also slowed nuclear power construction activity and completion of several projects is likely to be pushed by a few months to 2021.
 
The year 2020 is likely to see a modest number of new reactors completed, falling well below the recent high water mark of 11 gigawatt (GW) completed in 2018. At the same time, a slower recovery than envisioned would lead to lower electricity demand and further reduce nuclear power output in 2020.
 
When it comes to India, nuclear power plants of 7,000 megawatt (MW) capacity are currently under various phases of construction. India is planning to add around 20,000 Mw nuclear power generation capacity over the next decade.
 
The overall electricity demand has been significantly reduced as a result of lockdown measures being taken worldwide with knock-on effects on the power mix. According to IEA, electricity demand has been depressed by 20 per cent or more during periods of full lockdown in several countries across the world.