In this episode, Maurice Choy (Canadian Energy Infrastructure Analyst), Andrew Wong (Uranium & Fertilizers Analyst), Sara Mahaffy (ESG Strategist) and Robert Kwan (Head of Global Power, Utilities & Infrastructure Research) at RBC Capital Markets discuss our outlook for long-term growth in the nuclear energy industry, the path forward to address previous challenges, the political and regulatory landscape, ESG perspectives, and the outlook and exposure to nuclear energy across regions and sectors.
We have taken a global and cross-sector approach in reviewing the nuclear energy value chain in collaboration with our global team of Energy Infrastructure, Industrials, Mining & Materials and ESG analysts and strategists. We believe that nuclear energy generation capacity is well-positioned to grow in North America and Europe over the long term, supporting countries' energy transition objectives by being a source of reliable and non-emitting baseload power for decades as well as being an industry that countries can develop to deliver stronger economic growth. The vast challenge to deliver net zero by 2050 suggests to us that an “all of the above” approach must be taken, and that will not only benefit renewables (e.g., wind, solar, hydro) and carbon abatement technologies (e.g., CCUS, hydrogen), but also nuclear energy. We sense that certain countries are progressively valuing the benefits of nuclear energy and are justifiably giving support to the technology, ultimately leading to this industry becoming increasingly ESG-friendly and investable over the long run.