Solar power outpaces nuclear generation worldwide for the first time in 2025

According to the latest World Nuclear Industry Status Report, solar energy generated more electricity than nuclear power in 2025, a historic first. The report notes a substantial rise in solar output compared with the previous year, while the proportion of nuclear electricity in the global mix dropped to its lowest point since the mid-1990s. China was the only major market where nuclear generation grew, contributing to a modest overall increase in nuclear output and a new record level for the sector.

Worldwide, seven reactors were shut down and four new blocks began operating after an average build time of 8.1 years. Currently, 73 reactors are under construction, about half of them in China, and most projects are linked to countries that possess nuclear weapons. The report also highlights the limited progress of small modular reactors, with only one design certified in the West and a single construction project in Canada.