Summary of Key Points
The "China Nuclear Power Development Report (2026)" released by the National Energy Administration reveals key figures for China's nuclear power sector in 2025: China ranked third in the world in terms of installed capacity (operating units) and has led the world in new nuclear power projects for 19 consecutive years; electricity generation has been steadily increasing, with impressive economic benefits (each operating unit generating nearly 8 million yuan per day); significant environmental emissions reductions have been achieved; and the sector is entering a new phase of transitioning from large-scale to high-quality development. The report also emphasizes safety as a top priority and encourages greater participation from private enterprises. Globally, there is a rapid expansion in nuclear power capacity, with technology giants such as Google and Microsoft beginning to utilize nuclear power to support emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).
Detailed Analysis
1. **Stable Leadership in Global Scale, Leading in New Projects for 19 Years**
By the end of 2025, mainland China will have 112 nuclear power units in operation (59) and 53 under construction, with a total installed capacity of 125 million kilowatts. The operating capacity of 62.48 million kilowatts places China third in the world, behind only the United States and France, while the capacity under construction of 62.93 million kilowatts has maintained its leading position for 19 years. This achievement demonstrates that China's nuclear power engineering capabilities are among the best in the world—while other countries are still building units individually, China is capable of advancing them on a large scale.
2. **Impressive Economic Benefits: High Revenue per Unit**
In 2025, the revenue from nuclear power sales amounted to 172 billion yuan, with each of the 59 operating units generating an average annual income of 2.915 billion yuan, which translates to nearly 8 million yuan per day. Additionally, investment in new projects reached 161 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13.5%. The fact that the industry is both profitable and attracting investment indicates a promising outlook.
3. **Significant Environmental Contributions**
Nuclear power is a clean energy source. In 2025, nuclear power generation replaced approximately 148 million tons of coal, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 387 million tons, as well as 1.25 million tons of sulfur dioxide and 1.09 million tons of nitrogen oxides—major pollutants contributing to smog. This contribution is crucial for achieving the "dual carbon" goals (reducing carbon emissions and carbon neutrality).
4. **Future Focus on Quality Development: Safety First, with Increased Private Enterprise Participation**
The report highlights that the 14th Five-Year Plan period is a critical time for China's nuclear power sector to transition from large-scale expansion to high-quality development. Safety will be the top priority, as mass construction and operation pose additional safety challenges. The report also indicates greater openness to private enterprise participation, with 10 private companies involved in the approval of 5 new projects in 2025, holding up to 20% of the shares. This will inject more capital into the industry and boost its vitality.
5. **Global Expansion of Nuclear Power**
Globally, there has been a surge in nuclear power capacity, with 414 units in operation and 86 under construction. International organizations have raised their forecasts for future growth (for example, the IAEA predicts that global installed capacity could double by 2050). Notably, technology companies like Google and Microsoft are adopting nuclear power: Google has signed agreements to use small nuclear reactors to power its data centers (which consume large amounts of electricity), and Microsoft plans to restart the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. These developments show that the application of nuclear power is expanding beyond traditional power generation to support high-tech industries.
Conclusion
China's nuclear power sector is already a leader on a global scale, with significant advantages in terms of capacity, economic benefits, and environmental impact. In the future, the industry will become even more open and safer. On a global level, nuclear power is becoming an essential option for addressing energy transition needs and supporting high-tech development. For the general public, it can be understood that nuclear power is not only a vital national asset but also a versatile solution that generates revenue, benefits the environment, and supports future technological advancements.