Nuclear energy is among the safest sources of electricity. Strict safety systems, multi-barrier containment designs, and comprehensive regulatory oversight help ensure safety in operation. Modern reactors have passive safety features that reduce the chance of human error or system failure.

Per Our World in Data, nuclear power causes about 0.03-0.04 deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity produced, versus ~25 deaths/TWh for coal and ~18/TWh for oil. Radiation exposure for people living near nuclear plants is extremely low. If you live within 50 miles of a plant, your extra exposure is estimated at about 0.01 millirem per year, compared to ~300 millirem per year from natural background sources per the NRC.

Historical events like Chernobyl and Fukushima prompted rigorous upgrades to international standards, emergency planning, and design norms. Today the industry operates with far stronger safety protocols, monitoring, and transparency than in early decades.

Uranium is the essential fuel for nuclear power, with uranium-235 (U-235) serving as the fissile isotope in most reactors. When its atoms split in fission, they release immense heat that generates steam to drive turbines and produce electricity. Thanks to its extraordinary energy density—over a million times greater than coal or natural gas—uranium enables nuclear plants to produce vast amounts of carbon-free electricity from relatively small quantities of fuel, making it one of the most efficient resources for large-scale power generation.

Nuclear energy is critical to decarbonization because it provides constant, carbon-free electricity at a scale few other sources can match. Its ability to deliver reliable baseload power complements variable renewables and helps keep grids stable under growing demand. With low lifecycle emissions, a small land footprint, and unmatched energy density, nuclear generation is one of the most efficient ways to meet global energy needs while reducing reliance on carbon-intensive sources. These qualities make it a cornerstone of a clean, resilient, and secure energy system.

Nuclear energy is one of the most reliable sources of electricity, with a capacity factor around 93% — higher than natural gas (~57%), coal (~40%), wind (~35%), and solar (~25%). This means nuclear plants operate much more consistently and predictably than those other sources.

Nuclear power also has among the lowest lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, producing 15 to 30 times fewer emissions than coal or natural gas.

For energy density: a uranium fuel pellet (about 1.5 cm in diameter and 2 cm tall) produces energy equivalent to one ton of coal, 149 gallons of oil, or 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas (Nuclear Energy Institute and University of Michigan).

Nuclear-generated electricity avoids more than 470 million metric tons of CO₂ emissions each year in the U.S., which is roughly equivalent to taking over 100 million passenger vehicles off the road. (Nuclear Energy Institute)

The uranium market has historically been characterized by opacity and reliance on outdated trading mechanisms like bilateral OTC negotiations and email-based RFPs. Unlike other commodities, uranium requires specialized storage at accredited facilities under strict regulation. Most importantly, the market lacks the robust financial products common in other commodities—such as futures, options, ETFs, and other derivatives—that support a full spectrum of trade strategy expression. Without these tools, participants face higher costs, slower settlement, and reduced flexibility, leaving uranium trading far behind the standards of other global commodity markets.

Global uranium supply remains structurally tight. Mine restarts have underperformed, many projects face high breakeven costs, and few new greenfield developments are expected before 2030. Conversion and enrichment bottlenecks, combined with additional geopolitical risks, further limit available supply.

On the other side, demand is accelerating. Nuclear power is central to decarbonization and energy security strategies worldwide.Existing reactors are being extended or restarted, new builds are underway, and hyperscale data centers and AI firms have emerged as new sources of baseload demand. 

Uranium Digital addresses these imbalances by offering the only institutional-grade, 24/7 marketplace for uranium. Through live bid-ask trading and instant settlement, the platform enables real-time price discovery and direct access to liquidity. This modern infrastructure connects supply and demand more efficiently than opaque OTC negotiations, allowing institutions to adjust positions dynamically and ensuring that uranium markets function with the transparency and liquidity already standard in other global commodities.