The U.S. is heading a newly formed alliance with several other nations that will "promote nuclear power and encourage investment in new nuclear technologies," Reuters reported Thursday.

Why it matters: The announcement at an energy summit in Denmark comes as nuclear power faces headwinds in the U.S. and elsewhere, despite the need for zero-carbon electricity sources to help meet challenging international climate goals.

• The most recent forecasts from the federal Energy Information Administration project modest global nuclear generation growth of 1.5% annually through 2040. China and India, in particular, are expected to see significant increases while U.S. output is slated to drop as plants retire.

One level deeper: The other countries are Japan, Canada, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Argentina and Romania, per Reuters.

• "The group of nations aims to promote areas such as improved power system integration and the development of technologies like hybrid nuclear-renewable systems," they report.
• Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette said one focus will be development of small modular reactors.