China Is a Global Leader in Building New Nuclear Reactors as the Country Added More Capacity in the Last 15 Years Than the Rest of the World Combined

The scale of China’s nuclear energy expansion has reached a historic inflection point, solidifying its position as the primary engine of global nuclear growth. Over the past decade and a half, the People’s Republic of China has commissioned more nuclear power capacity than all other nations combined, a feat that underscores Beijing’s dual commitment to energy security and its ambitious decarbonization roadmap. As of March 2026, the country continues to accelerate its construction pipeline, with the recent modular lifting at the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant in Shandong Province serving as a high-profile symbol of this industrial momentum.

While much of the Western world has grappled with aging fleets, high capital costs, and public skepticism, China has treated nuclear energy as a cornerstone of its national infrastructure. By leveraging a centralized state-planning model, standardized reactor designs, and a robust domestic supply chain, China has moved from a technology importer to a global leader in Generation III+ and IV reactor deployment. This shift is not merely about domestic power generation; it is a strategic maneuver to dominate the global clean energy technology market for the remainder of the 21st century.

The Haiyang Milestone and the Current State of Construction

The recent progress at the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant highlights the technical proficiency China has attained. On August 4, 2025, engineers successfully lifted the CB20 module for Unit 3’s nuclear island, a critical step in the assembly of the facility’s advanced pressurized water reactors. Haiyang, located in Yantai, Shandong Province, is one of several coastal "mega-hubs" designed to host multiple large-scale units.

The Haiyang project utilizes the CAP1400 and AP1000 designs—advanced Generation III+ technologies that emphasize passive safety systems. The ability to execute these complex lifts and assembly phases on or ahead of schedule stands in stark contrast to the multi-year delays and multibillion-dollar cost overruns seen in recent Western projects, such as the Vogtle plant in the United States or Flamanville in France. For Beijing, the Haiyang facility is more than a power plant; it is a template for the rapid, modular construction techniques that China hopes to export to emerging markets.

A 15-Year Chronology of Acceleration

The journey to global dominance began in earnest following the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi accident in Japan. While many nations, including Germany and Japan, moved to phase out nuclear power or paused new developments, China conducted a rigorous safety review before doubling down on its nuclear ambitions.

1. The Post-Fukushima Pivot (2011–2014): Following a brief moratorium on new approvals, China shifted its focus from older Generation II designs to advanced Generation III+ technologies. This era saw the beginning of the "Hualong One" development, China’s first indigenous flagship reactor design.
2. Standardization and Scaling (2015–2020): During the 13th Five-Year Plan, China focused on creating a standardized supply chain. By mass-producing components for the Hualong One (HPR1000), the country significantly reduced the "first-of-a-kind" costs that typically plague nuclear projects.
3. The Carbon Neutrality Pledge (2020–Present): After President Xi Jinping announced China’s goal to reach peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, the pace of nuclear approvals accelerated. In 2022 and 2023 alone, the State Council approved a record number of new reactors, often greenlighting up to 10 units in a single year.
4. Generation IV Leadership (2024–2026): China recently operationalized the Shidao Bay plant, the world’s first fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). This technology, which uses "pebble-bed" fuel and helium coolant, represents a frontier in nuclear safety and industrial heat application.

Supporting Data: China vs. The Rest of the World

The statistics regarding China’s nuclear sector are staggering. According to data from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Nuclear Association, China currently has more than 55 operational reactors, with approximately 30 more under active construction.

In terms of capacity, China added over 35 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear power between 2011 and 2025. During that same period, the rest of the world saw a net stagnation or slight decline in capacity as plant retirements in the U.S. and Europe offset new builds in Russia and South Korea. Projections for the late 2020s suggest that China will surpass France as the world’s second-largest nuclear generator by 2027 and is on track to overtake the United States by 2030.

Furthermore, China’s investment in the nuclear fuel cycle—including uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing—has grown by 400% in the last decade. This integrated approach ensures that the country is not dependent on foreign suppliers for the long-term operation of its fleet, a critical component of its national security strategy.

Strategic Objectives: Beyond Clean Electricity

China’s aggressive nuclear expansion is driven by three primary strategic pillars: energy security, air quality, and geopolitical influence.

Energy Security and Base Load Stability

While China is also the world leader in wind and solar installation, the intermittent nature of renewables presents challenges for grid stability. Nuclear power provides a reliable "base load" that can run 24/7, reducing the need for coal-fired plants to act as backstops. As China seeks to reduce its reliance on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil, nuclear energy offers a domestic, high-density energy source that is immune to maritime trade disruptions.

Combatting Urban Pollution

For decades, Chinese cities have struggled with severe smog caused by coal combustion. Transitioning coastal industrial hubs to nuclear power has already led to measurable improvements in air quality in provinces like Guangdong and Zhejiang. The government views nuclear energy as the most viable path to maintaining high industrial output while meeting stringent environmental standards.

The "Nuclear Silk Road"

Beijing is increasingly viewing nuclear technology as a high-value export under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). By offering "turnkey" nuclear solutions—including financing, construction, fuel supply, and waste management—China is positioning itself as the partner of choice for nations in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. The Hualong One reactor has already been exported to Pakistan, and negotiations are ongoing with several other nations that seek an alternative to Russian or Western technology.

Official Responses and Global Reaction

The international community has watched China’s ascent with a mixture of admiration and concern. Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA, has frequently cited China’s "unparalleled" pace of construction as evidence that nuclear power remains a viable solution for the global climate crisis.

"China’s ability to build reactors on time and on budget is a model that many are looking to replicate," Grossi noted during a recent energy summit. "They have demonstrated that when there is political will and industrial coordination, the challenges of nuclear energy can be overcome."

However, Western governments have raised questions regarding regulatory transparency and the geopolitical implications of China’s dominance in the nuclear supply chain. In the United States and the United Kingdom, security concerns have led to the exclusion of Chinese state-owned enterprises from local nuclear projects, such as the Sizewell C project in the UK. Despite these frictions, industry analysts argue that the global "nuclear renaissance" is effectively being led by Beijing, with Western firms now looking to China for lessons in construction efficiency.

Broader Implications for the Global Energy Transition

The implications of China’s nuclear leadership extend far beyond its borders. First, China’s massive investment is driving down the global cost of nuclear components. By creating a high-volume market for pumps, valves, and pressure vessels, China is making nuclear energy more affordable for the rest of the world, much as it did with solar panels over the previous decade.

Second, China’s focus on Fourth-Generation reactors and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could revolutionize the industry. If China successfully commercializes SMRs like the Linglong One, nuclear power could become accessible to smaller countries or remote regions that cannot support a traditional 1,000 MW reactor. This would significantly accelerate the global phase-out of fossil fuels in the developing world.

Finally, China’s success serves as a "proof of concept" for the role of the state in the energy transition. In an era where private capital is often hesitant to fund the high upfront costs of nuclear projects, China’s state-backed financing model has proven resilient. This may prompt other nations to reconsider the role of government intervention in achieving net-zero goals.

Conclusion

As of 2026, China stands as the undisputed titan of the nuclear industry. The lifting of modules at Haiyang and the commissioning of new units across the coastline are not isolated events but parts of a coordinated, decades-long campaign to rewire the nation’s economy. By adding more capacity in 15 years than the rest of the world combined, China has not only secured its energy future but has also fundamentally shifted the global balance of technological power. Whether the rest of the world follows China’s lead or develops its own competing models, the "center of gravity" for nuclear energy has officially moved to the East.