Nuclear power in China

According to the National Nuclear Safety Administration of China, as of 2024 Dec 31, there are 58 nuclear power-plants operating in mainland China, second only to the US which has 94. The installed power sits at 60.88 GW, ranked third after US' 96.95 GW and France's 63.02 GW, and is projected to overtake France in 2025. There are 27 additional plants under-construction with a total installed power of 32.31 GW, ranked first for the 18th consecutive year.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, in 2024, nuclear power in China has a total installed power of 60.83 GW comprising 1.82% of the nation's total. They produced 450.85 TWh of electricity (ranked second globally), which is 4.47% of the nation's total.

Nuclear power has been looked into as an alternative to coal due to increasing concerns about air quality, climate change and fossil fuel shortages. The China General Nuclear Power Group has articulated the goal of 200 GW by 2035, produced by 150 additional reactors.

China has two major nuclear power companies, the China National Nuclear Corporation operating mainly in north-east China, and the China General Nuclear Power Group (formerly known as China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group) operating mainly in south-east China.

China aims to maximize self-reliance on nuclear reactor technology manufacturing and design, although international cooperation and technology transfer are also encouraged. Advanced pressurized water reactors such as the Hualong One are the mainstream technology in the near future, and the Hualong One is also planned to be exported. China plans to build as many as thirty nuclear power reactors in countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative by 2030. By mid-century, fast neutron reactors are seen as the main technology, with a planned 1400 GW capacity by 2100. China is also involved in the development of nuclear fusion reactors through its participation in the ITER project, having constructed an experimental nuclear fusion reactor known as EAST located in Hefei, as well as research and development into the thorium fuel cycle as a potential alternative means of nuclear fission.