Expansion Plan for India's Civil Nuclear Capacity to Reach 100 GW by 2047

A global movement to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050 is gathering momentum, and India is poised to benefit significantly from this shift. This initiative, spearheaded by major powers such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and France, aims to address climate change and energy security concerns.

India, currently relying on coal for three-quarters of its electricity, is hindering its decarbonisation efforts. However, the country has set a ambitious target of reaching 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 as part of its climate and energy security goals.

The recommended integrated strategy for reaching this target includes 60 GW of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR), 20 GW of Small Modular Reactors (SMR), and 20 GW of imported Generation III+ reactors. India currently operates 24 reactors, with an average lifetime load factor of about 82 percent.

Domestic uranium now meets less than a quarter of India's demand, but new deposits and long-term import contracts improve resilience. Uranium supplies for India's nuclear power plants are diversified across Kazakhstan, Canada, Russia, and domestic deposits such as Jaduguda and Tummalapalle.

The global push to triple nuclear capacity encourages technology transfer, financing options, and elevated market demand that align with India’s ambitions. India is likely to benefit from the expanding global nuclear market competition and technology development, increased international funding opportunities, and policy momentum and international cooperation shaping a supportive environment to triple global capacity.

In the first phase of the plan, key actions include passing amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, enacting the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Law, and launching SMR pilots on retired coal sites. The Indian Budget for 2025-26 has reframed nuclear energy as a keystone of national strategy, tying the 100-GW objective to 2047 and juxtaposing it against the Net Zero 2070 pledge made at COP26.

Three measures build trust for nuclear power projects: early, transparent engagement, community benefit sharing equal to one percent of project cost, and a single-window system for approvals. The new 100-GW target signals both a course correction and a strategic leap for India's nuclear energy sector.

Nuclear power has the lowest lifecycle emissions among large-scale sources once storage is included, and India follows a closed fuel cycle, reprocessing spent fuel and deploying the Advanced Heavy-Water Reactor (AHWR) to exploit vast thorium reserves. Aligning the 100-GW plan with fast-breeder and AHWR timelines will secure fuel independence.

The Dubai COP28 'Declaration to Triple Global Nuclear Capacity by 2050' brought nuclear back into the multilateral climate conversation. As of mid-2025, there are around 25 countries, including India, actively working towards this goal. India's per-capita electricity consumption in 2022 was 1,208 kWh, significantly lower than China's 4,600 kWh and the United States' 12,500 kWh. Success in achieving the 100 GW nuclear capacity goal depends on affordable finance, reformed liability law, and efficient land acquisition.

A new Radioactive Waste Management Agency and a deep geological repository targeted for 2032 will address long-term waste, and lifecycle studies place PHWR emissions at roughly 12 g CO2-eq per kWh, lower than solar photovoltaic plus battery storage (about 45 g). Raising per-capita income from USD 2800 to USD 22000 by 2047 will require at least a five-fold rise in annual electricity output.

In summary, the global push to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 directly complements and supports India’s target to achieve 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047 by expanding technology options, catalyzing financing and exports, and fostering international collaboration in nuclear development. This global movement helps enhance India’s nuclear energy strategy amid the urgent need for low-carbon, reliable power solutions in a rapidly growing economy.

The strategy to triple nuclear energy capacity globally by 2050 is providing a supportive environment for India's ambitious goal of reaching 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047.
The recommended strategy for India includes the deployment of Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR), Small Modular Reactors (SMR), and imported Generation III+ reactors.
The global push encourages technology transfer and elevated market demand that align with India’s ambitions in the renewable-energy industry.
India's nuclear energy sector is poised to benefit from the expanding global nuclear market competition and technology development.
The first phase of India's plan includes passing amendments to the Atomic Energy Act, enacting the Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority Law, and launching SMR pilots on retired coal sites.
International funding opportunities and policy momentum shaping a supportive environment are crucial for increasing nuclear capacity globally.
Nuclear power, with its lowest lifecycle emissions among large-scale sources, is a key component of India's strategy for addressing climate change and energy security concerns.
Aligning the 100-GW plan with fast-breeder and Advanced Heavy-Water Reactor (AHWR) timelines will secure fuel independence for India.
Success in achieving the 100 GW nuclear capacity goal depends on affordable finance, reformed liability law, and efficient land acquisition in the home-and-garden sector.
The new Radioactive Waste Management Agency and a deep geological repository targeted for 2032 will address long-term waste issues in India's nuclear energy sector.
PHWR emissions are roughly 12 g CO2-eq per kWh, making them a more efficient option compared to solar photovoltaic plus battery storage.
The global initiative to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 helps countries like India in their career development and job-search efforts in the technology, finance, and energy sectors.
Raising per-capita income requires at least a five-fold rise in annual electricity output, making nuclear energy a crucial part of personal-finance planning in India.
The global movement to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 is fostering education and self-development in the areas of data-and-cloud-computing, technology, and weather-forecasting for a more sustainable future.