Nuclear power played a key role in helping the world economy bounce back from the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, providing a swift increase in electricity generation after its sharp fall during the lockdowns of 2020.

According to new data from the International Atomic Energy Agency, nuclear power provided “secure and reliable low-emission electricity” amid evolving global crises in 2021, notching its second highest annual output of the last decade as the world emerged from pandemic.

Asia had the biggest increase in nuclear production with an increase of 10% – the highest level in a decade.

For the second year in a row China produced more electricity than France, making China the second largest nuclear power producer after the US.