China to nearly double nuclear power capacity by 2040 in rapid build-up
The reactor-building spree would make China by far the world’s largest nuclear power generator, while the US strives to revive its own industry
China will nearly double its nuclear power capacity by 2040, making it by far the world’s largest nuclear power generator, according to a new report by the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA).
The country is set to build dozens of new reactors to raise its installed capacity to 200 gigawatts – more than double the US’ current capacity – by the end of the next decade, the Chinese industry body said in the paper released on Monday.
Beijing has embarked on one of the fastest buildouts of nuclear power facilities in history over recent years, as it strives to decarbonise the Chinese economy while also avoiding excessive dependence on weather-dependent green energy sources such as solar and wind.
Roughly half of the 61 nuclear reactors currently under construction worldwide are located in China, according to a Goldman Sachs report published last week.
China had 102 reactors either in use or under construction with a combined capacity of 113GW as of the end of 2024, which are clustered in the country’s economically prosperous coastal provinces, the CNEA report said.
The United States had 94 operational reactors with a total installed capacity of nearly 97GW as of 2024, according to US Energy Information Administration data.