Nuclear energy provides a constant and reliable supply of electricity that can replace coal and complement gas, according to the authors of the newly released report. Unlike solar and wind power, which fluctuate based on weather and daylight, nuclear plants operate at high capacity factors to ensure the electrical grid remains stable even as demand grows.
“Nuclear power can provide a stable energy supply that complements gas and substitutes coal for baseload, assuring a dependable electricity flow and strengthening energy security. Nonetheless, the main challenges associated with renewable energy sources remain their intermittency and reliability, which render them more appropriate for peak-load generation.”
This means that while energy from the sun and wind is helpful for meeting temporary spikes in electricity use, those sources cannot be relied upon to keep the power running twenty-four hours a day. Fossil fuels like coal have traditionally provided this steady “baseload” power, but they produce high levels of pollution and carbon emissions. Nuclear energy offers a way to generate massive amounts of power continuously without these emissions, providing a more consistent backbone for a modern energy grid than weather-dependent alternatives.
The report “Future Scenarios: The Role of Nuclear Power in Malaysia’s Energy Landscape” was published by the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) in Cyberjaya, Malaysia, in 2025. It was prepared by a team of authors and technical experts at MIGHT to provide a strategic foresight outlook on integrating nuclear energy into the nation’s transition to a net-zero economy.
