Part 1 of 2 Parts
     The global nuclear industry is facing serious problems as production hits its lowest point in four decades and economic pressures rise.
     The World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR) has outlined the severe challenges faced by the global nuclear power sector in recent years. The report covers developments up to mid-2023. It highlights a significant decline in nuclear energy production. The percentage of global electricity generated by nuclear power has reached its lowest point in forty years. This decline is attributed to a combination of factors. These include national policy shifts, economic pressures, and the rapid growth of renewable energy alternatives.
     The WNISR points out that global nuclear power generation experienced a significant four percent decline, reaching a level not seen since the mid-1990s. The decrease outside of China was even more pronounced. With a five percent decrease, the global nuclear energy share of commercial gross electricity generation in 2022 fell to just nine percent. This is the most substantial drop since the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, a record low in the past forty years. It is notable that this share is now just above half of its peak of seventeen and half percent in 1996.
     Several major nuclear-producing countries faced similar challenges in 2022 and mid-2023. This contributed to the overall losses on the global nuclear landscape.
     In the U.S., the nuclear share of commercial electricity generation fell to eighteen percent, the lowest level in twenty-five years. In France, nuclear generation fell below its 1990 level. This resulted in France changing to a net importer of electricity for the first time since 1980. However, Frances appears to be motivated to rectify this situation. It recently led a group of twenty countries to declare that they intended to triple nuclear energy capacity from 2020 to 2050 at COP28 in Dubai.
     Belgium has closed two nuclear power reactors, one in 2022 and the other in 2023. Three more reactors are scheduled to be closed by 2025. Germany closed the last of its three operating reactors in mid-April of 2023. This completed its nuclear phase-out policy begun in 2011.
     The report mentions that the number of closed nuclear power reactors reached two hundred and twelve units as of mid-2023. Twenty-two were fully decommissioned and eleven were released from regulatory control. The report indicates that there are four hundred and seven nuclear power reactors with a total capacity of three hundred and sixty-five gigawatts operating worldwide. This represents a decrease of four reactors compared with the previous year and thirty-one units below the peak observed in 2002.
     Nuclear power faces increasing economic challenges. Lazard modeling indicates that, at discount rates over five and a half percent, nuclear power becomes the most expensive electricity generator in terms of the levelized cost of energy (LEOE).
     National developments of major nuclear power producing countries reflect this reality. The report highlights the massive governmental subsidies in the U.S. State-level taxpayer-funded subsidies are estimated to exceed fifteen billion dollars by 2030. The U.K. is currently operating only nine nuclear power reactors. The cost for the two reactors being constructed at Hinkley Point has soared to forty-four billion dollars. Grid connection for the new reactors has been delayed until June of 2027. South Korea’s state-owned utility, KEPCO, recently accumulated a record loss of twenty-five billion dollars, with a thirty two percent rise in net debt to one hundred and forty-nine billion dollars.
Please read Part 2 next

Ambient office = 80 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 94 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 94 nanosieverts per hour

Roma tomato from Central Market = 111 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 115 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 100 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient office = 74 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 134 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 134 nanosieverts per hour

Red bell pepper from Central Market = 129 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 119 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 108 nanosieverts per hour

Ambient outside = 163 nanosieverts per hour

Soil exposed to rain water = 163 nanosieverts per hour

Minibell Mushroom from Central Market = 162 nanosieverts per hour

Tap water = 65 nanosieverts per hour

Filter water = 56 nanosieverts per hour

Dover Sole from Central = 104 nanosieverts per hour

     Jacobs Solutions Inc. has just been selected to assist a French start-up company, Nuclear Abundant Affordable Resourceful Energy for All (NAAREA), in the development of a new nuclear power reactor.
     NAAREA’s XAMR ®  is an innovative microreactor designed to produce heat and electricity by burning plutonium and the most highly radiotoxic waste produced by the traditional nuclear sector.
     Jacobs will offer support for nuclear safety along with various engineering disciplines. These include control and instrumentation, mechanical and process. Within the three-year framework of work, the companies will collaborate to focus on delivering safe, clean and sustainable nuclear energy. This will promote energy security and global sustainability. The development of NAAREA’s power reactor is being funded by the French 2030 investment plan. This is a strategic initiative by the French government.
     Following the announcement of the new award, shares of this provider of professional, technical and construction services gained three tenths of a percent during the trading hours on December 13th.
     Jacobs’ efficient project execution has increased demand for its consulting services in various industries. These include infrastructure, water, environment, space, broadband, cybersecurity, and life sciences. This is attributed to the growth of its backlog.
     At fiscal 2023 end, Jacobs reported a backlog of twenty-nine billion dollars. This is an increase of four and a half percent year-over-year. This reflects persistent strong demand for Jacobs’ consulting services. The company should benefit from strong global trends in infrastructure modernization, energy transition, national security and a potential super-cycle in global supply-chain investments.
     Shares of Jacobs have increased eleven percent in the past six months compared with the Zacks Technology Services industry’s thirteen and a half percent growth. Shares of Jacobs have underperformed its industry. However, its consistent contract wins on the back of efficient project execution are likely to boost its growth prospects. Jacobs currently carries a Zacks Rank of #4.
     Here are some better-ranked stocks from the Zacks Business Services sector.
     Duolingo, Inc. (DUOL) sports a Zacks Rank of #1. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings of one hundred and fourteen percent. The stock has increased by two hundred and eighteen percent in the last year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Durolingo’s 2023 sales and earnings per share suggests an increase of forty three percent and one hundred and seventeen percent respectively from the year-ago period’s levels.
     TriNet Group, Inc. currently has a Zacks Rank of #1. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings of seventy seven percent on average. The stock has risen eighty-five percent in the last year.
     The Zacks Consensus Estimate for TriNet’s 2023 sales indicates a decline of three percent but the EPS suggested an increase of four percent, respectively, from the year-ago period’s levels.
     FirstCash Holdings, Inc. currently has a Zacks Rating of #1. It has a trailing four-quarter earnings of eight percent on average. The stock price has risen thirty-two percent in the last years.
     Zacks Consensus Estimate for FirstCash’s 2023 sales and EPS indicated a sixteen percent and a thirteen percent increase from the year-ago period’s levels.