"China Nuclear Power Development Report (2026)": China's Total Scale of Operating and Approved-Under-Construction Nuclear Power Units Ranks First in the World

On August 6, the National Energy Administration released the "China Nuclear Power Development Report (2026)". As of the end of 2025, China had a total of 112 nuclear power units in operation and approved for construction, with a total installed capacity of 125 million kilowatts, ranking first in the world. Among them, 59 units were in operation with an installed capacity of 62.48 million kilowatts, ranking third globally; 53 units were approved and under construction with a capacity of 62.93 million kilowatts, maintaining the world's largest nuclear power engineering construction scale for 19 consecutive years.

The report shows that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, China newly approved 46 nuclear power units with a total capacity of 54.5 million kilowatts, and newly commissioned 11 units with a capacity of 12.45 million kilowatts. In 2025, China commissioned one new nuclear power unit, namely Unit 2 of the "Guohe One" demonstration project; and approved the construction of 10 new nuclear power units with a total capacity of 12.1 million kilowatts, involving Units 5 and 6 of Zhejiang Sanmen, Units 5 and 6 of Shandong Haiyang, Units 1 and 2 of Fujian Xiapu, Units 3 and 4 of Guangdong Taishan, and Units 5 and 6 of Guangxi Fangchenggang.

Nuclear power generation continued to grow. In 2025, the national nuclear power generation reached 485.2 billion kilowatt-hours, a year-on-year increase of 7.6%, accounting for 4.6% of the country's total power generation and 11.4% of non-fossil energy power generation. The average utilization hours of nuclear power units nationwide reached 7,809 hours, with a load factor of 89.1%, an increase of 126 hours year-on-year. In Fujian Province, nuclear power generation accounted for 28.1% of the province's total power generation, while in Liaoning, Hainan, and Guangdong, the shares were 20.9%, 18.5%, and 16.9%, respectively.

In terms of safe operation, in 2025, China's operating nuclear power units maintained safe and stable operation, with no operational events at Level 1 or above on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale, no general or above radiation accidents, and no general or above environmental emergencies caused by radioactive effluent or conventional pollutant emissions. According to statistics from the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), as of the end of 2025, the average comprehensive index of the 56 nuclear power units included in the statistics in China was 98.7, with 43 units achieving full marks, both ranking first globally.

In terms of scientific and technological innovation, the "Hualong One" third-generation pressurized water reactor technology has entered the batch construction stage, with a total of 4 "Hualong One" units at Fujian Fuqing and Guangxi Fangchenggang having been fully completed and put into operation. The "Guohe One" demonstration project has been fully completed, and the Shandong Shidaowan high-temperature gas-cooled reactor nuclear power demonstration project has been put into commercial operation, becoming the world's first commercial demonstration power plant of fourth-generation nuclear power technology. The 2 MW thermal power liquid-fuel thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor achieved the first thorium-uranium nuclear fuel conversion, the 1200 MW electric power commercial sodium-cooled fast reactor completed its standard design, and the construction of the "Linglong One" small modular reactor demonstration project in Hainan Changjiang is progressing steadily.

The comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy is also being rapidly expanded. Shandong Haiyang's "Warm Nuclear No. 1" completed its 7th heating season task, ensuring clean heating for urban residents in Haiyang, Rushan, and other areas. The total heating area of the 4 nuclear heating projects nationwide exceeded 19.75 million square meters. Jiangsu Tianwan Nuclear Power's "Heqi No. 1" has delivered over 3.17 million tons of clean steam to the Lianyungang petrochemical industry base since its operation one year ago, equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by 264,200 tons and achieving an equivalent carbon dioxide emission reduction of 706,600 tons.

The report also shows that the level of independent and controllable supply chains in the nuclear power industry has continued to improve, with the domestic equipment localization rate for new nuclear power projects exceeding 90%. In 2025, the investment completed in various nuclear power projects under construction was approximately 161 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 13.5%; nuclear power electricity sales revenue reached 172 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.5%. According to the report's estimates, the nuclear power generation in 2025 was equivalent to replacing 148 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 387 million tons.

From a global perspective, as of the end of 2025, there were 414 operating nuclear power units worldwide, distributed across 31 countries; and 86 approved units under construction, distributed across 15 countries. The report believes that China's nuclear power will continue to be in an important period of development opportunities in the future. The construction of coastal nuclear power will continue to advance steadily and orderly, the batch, standardized, modular, and intelligent construction capabilities of nuclear power will be further enhanced, and the application space of nuclear energy in multi-purpose scenarios such as clean heating and industrial steam supply will also continue to expand.

Click to download: China Nuclear Power Development Report (2026)