VIENNA, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The International Atomic Energy...

VIENNA, Sept 8 (Reuters) - The International Atomic Energy Agency raised its nuclear power projections for 2030 on Tuesday, with China, India, Japan and South Korea seen embracing atomic energy more than before.

The Vienna-based agency expects installed nuclear power capacity to rise by at least 40 percent worldwide over the next two decades to around 510 gigawatts. It could more than double in one scenario, the agency said.

The projections were eight percent higher than last year's estimates for 2030 and predictions for Asian countries in particular helped pull up the total.

"The financial crisis that started in late 2008 has affected the prospects of some projects, but its impact has been different in different parts of the world," the IAEA said in a statement.

"The medium- and long-term factors driving rising expectations for nuclear power have not changed substantially."

The IAEA said ongoing concerns about global warming, energy security, and fossil fuel prices meant nuclear power was still seen as a good bet in the medium to long term.

The agency said governments, utilities and vendors were seen firming their commitment to previously-announced projects and this raised confidence in the sector over the longer term, despite the financial turmoil.

A new verification agreement between the IAEA and India in August last year also raised nuclear power prospects for the country which is expected to become one of the biggest users of atomic energy.

Nuclear supplier countries lifted restrictions on nuclear trade with India after the agreement, allowing India to accelerate its planned atomic power expansion.

The IAEA projections are drawn from nuclear experts worldwide who look at operating reactors, licence renewals, planned shutdowns and possible construction projects in their calculations. (Reporting by Sylvia Westall; Editing by Keiron Henderson)