China’s Nuclear Construction Scale Ranks First Globally

China’s nuclear power construction scale continues to lead the world, with the country maintaining its position as the global leader in nuclear power engineering for 19 consecutive years, according to the latest industry data. The National Energy Administration (NEA) released the “China Nuclear Power Development Report 2026” on August 6, revealing that as of the end of 2025, China had 112 nuclear power units in operation or approved for construction, with a total installed capacity of 125 million kW — the largest overall scale in the world, as reported by People’s Daily.

A Milestone in Scale and Capacity

The report shows that 59 nuclear units are currently in operation with an installed capacity of 62.48 million kW, ranking third globally behind the United States and France. Meanwhile, 53 units have been approved for construction with a capacity of 62.93 million kW, maintaining the world’s largest nuclear power construction scale for 19 consecutive years. China’s total nuclear power scale is now 2.6 times that of 2012.

During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period (2021-2025), China approved 46 new nuclear units with a combined capacity of 54.5 million kW, and brought 11 units into operation with a capacity of 12.45 million kW. The China Energy News reported that nuclear power generation during this period exceeded 2 trillion kWh, equivalent to reducing CO2 emissions by more than 1.53 billion tons.

Record Power Generation and Safety Performance

In 2025, nuclear power generated 485.2 billion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 7.6%, accounting for 4.6% of total national power generation and 11.4% of non-fossil energy generation. The average utilization hours for nuclear units reached 7,809 hours, up 126 hours year-on-year, according to Yicai.

China’s nuclear units have maintained excellent safety records throughout the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, with no Level 2 or above events on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) and no adverse impact on the public or environment. China’s nuclear units have ranked first globally for 10 consecutive years in the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) comprehensive index, with the highest number of full-score units and highest average scores.

Hualong One: The Flagship Reactor

The domestically developed Hualong One third-generation reactor has become the backbone of China’s nuclear power expansion. Of the 53 approved or under-construction units, 33 (62%) are Hualong One units. The reactor has become the most widely deployed third-generation nuclear reactor type globally, with over 40 units in operation or approved worldwide, as IT之家 reported.

In March 2026, the first Hualong One unit in the Yangtze River Delta — CGN Zhejiang San’ao Unit 1 — successfully connected to the grid, marking a significant milestone for the reactor technology. Ding Jingying, Deputy General Manager of CGN Cangnan Nuclear Power, highlighted the reactor’s safety credentials: “With safe design concepts and major technological innovations, we have built a strong safety defense line, adopted independent redundant safety series, obtained more than 800 domestic and international invention patents, and achieved higher safety performance. Currently, Hualong One has the largest number of units under construction and in operation globally, and is the main reactor type for China’s nuclear power batch construction and the main choice for China’s nuclear power ‘going global.’”

Equipment Localization and Supply Chain Strength

China’s nuclear power equipment and materials localization rate for new projects exceeds 90%, with nuclear main equipment 100% domestically produced and key components technologically independent. The country has developed a complete nuclear power supply chain, capable of manufacturing more than 10 sets of nuclear main equipment annually and constructing 50 nuclear units simultaneously, as Guangming Daily reported.

Cao Shudong, Executive Vice Chairman of the China Nuclear Energy Association, noted: “Through active use of digital and intelligent means, and large-scale application of advanced construction technology, China has gradually formed full-lifecycle nuclear power engineering construction and operation capabilities from engineering design, construction, commissioning to commercial operation. Group reactor construction management capability is at the forefront internationally, with the engineering capability to construct 50 nuclear units simultaneously.”

Provincial Leadership and Regional Distribution

Fujian province leads the nation with nuclear power accounting for 28.1% of its provincial power generation, followed by Liaoning (20.9%), Hainan (18.5%), and Guangdong (16.9%), according to the report.

Looking Ahead: From Large to Strong

The report anticipates that China’s operating nuclear power capacity may surpass the United States before 2030 to become the world’s largest. The “15th Five-Year Plan” period is described as a critical phase for China’s nuclear power to transition from “large” to “strong.”

Yang Changli, Rotating Chairman of the China Nuclear Energy Association, emphasized the strategic importance of this period: “The ‘15th Five-Year Plan’ period is a critical period for China to basically realize socialist modernization and comprehensively develop, and also an important strategic opportunity period for nuclear energy development.” He added that based on comprehensive research, China’s nuclear power installed capacity is projected to reach 200 million kW by 2040.

Fusion Energy and Advanced Reactor Development

China’s controllable nuclear fusion R&D has formed a large-scale commercial investment pattern, with cumulative financing exceeding 10 billion yuan. The investment structure features “national team leading, local state capital supporting, and market institutions active.” The report notes that China needs to accelerate R&D of fourth-generation nuclear power technology, with multiple reactor types at the inflection point from technical research to engineering application.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the impressive scale, the report and expert commentary acknowledge several challenges. Wang Yiren, Chief Expert of the China Nuclear Energy Development Report and former Deputy Director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, proposed five policy recommendations addressing nuclear power economics, nuclear science and technology innovation system efficiency, nuclear fuel supply chain shortcomings, structural challenges in the nuclear technology application industry, and constraints on international cooperation.

Strategic Implications

The sustained expansion of China’s nuclear power program carries significant economic and geopolitical implications. Beyond domestic energy security, the Hualong One reactor is being actively marketed internationally as China’s flagship nuclear export technology. As global nuclear power experiences a renaissance, with major countries accelerating investment in small modular reactors, fourth-generation advanced reactors, and fusion research, China’s position as the world’s largest nuclear construction market positions it at the center of this global energy transition.

With nuclear power projected to play an increasingly vital role in China’s carbon neutrality goals, the coming years will be critical in determining whether China can successfully navigate the transition from the world’s largest nuclear builder to the world’s leading nuclear power operator.