China's nuclear power sector has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past decade, with installed generating capacity expanding by 24 GW between 2016 and 2024 — a 76% increase according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration's International Energy Statistics database. The growth trajectory shows no signs of slowing: an additional 1.1 GW came online in 2025, and a further 2.2 GW has been commissioned through May 2026, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency's Power Reactor Information System (PRIS).
Perhaps more striking than the capacity already added is the scale of construction currently underway. China has 36 nuclear reactors actively under construction, representing more than 49% of total global nuclear reactor construction activity. No other country comes close to matching this pace, underscoring Beijing's long-term commitment to nuclear energy as a cornerstone of its low-carbon electricity strategy and energy security objectives.
This aggressive buildout reflects China's dual imperatives of decarbonizing a carbon-intensive power grid while meeting continuously rising electricity demand driven by industrial growth, electrification, and emerging data center loads. Nuclear power offers the firm, dispatchable generation that intermittent renewables cannot consistently provide, making it a strategic complement to China's equally ambitious solar and wind expansion programs.
For the global nuclear industry, China's construction pipeline carries significant implications. Chinese reactor vendors, including the domestically developed Hualong One design, are gaining operational experience at scale, potentially positioning China as a major exporter of nuclear technology to developing markets in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Supply chain dynamics, uranium demand, and international nuclear safety governance frameworks will all feel the influence of China's continued nuclear expansion in the years ahead.
