Global Nuclear Power Market Stagnates in 2025 - Remains at Trough

Münster (Germany) - The global nuclear power plant market will also fail to emerge from its prolonged trough in 2025, as in previous years. A renaissance with significant market growth is still not in sight.

Looking ahead, little growth in global nuclear capacity is expected in the coming years. The focus on planned new builds often obscures the increasing decommissioning of older facilities. In the overall balance of additions and shutdowns, the global nuclear fleet is therefore likely to remain largely stagnant.

2025: Three new nuclear plants and seven shutdowns worldwide

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), three new nuclear power plants were commissioned worldwide in 2025 (2024: six). At the same time, seven older reactors were permanently shut down (2024: four), resulting in a net decline.

In terms of capacity, the IAEA (as of 27 April 2026) reports that new nuclear plants with a combined net capacity of 2,956 MW were connected to the grid in 2025, significantly lower than the 6,813 MW recorded in 2024. The 2025 commissioning included plants in Russia (Kursk 2-1, 1,200 MW), India (Rajasthan-7, 630 MW), and China (Zhangzhou-2, 1,126 MW).

During the same period, nuclear plants with a total net capacity of 2,823 MW were permanently shut down globally in 2025 (2024: 2,891 MW). In Belgium, this includes Doel 1 and Doel 2 (445 MW each) as well as Tihange-1 (962 MW). Additional closures include Taiwan’s last operating nuclear plant, Maanshan-2 (938 MW), and three smaller Russian units, Bilibino-2, -3 and -4 (11 MW each).

Nuclear balance 2025: marginal global growth of 133 MW

Overall, the global nuclear capacity balance for 2025 shows a slight net increase of 133 MW, based on additions (2,956 MW) and shutdowns (2,823 MW).

“The frequently announced renaissance of nuclear energy is once again failing to materialise in 2025,” said Dr. Norbert Allnoch, CEO of the Internationales Wirtschaftsforum Regenerative Energien (IWR).

According to Allnoch, the reasons for the continued weak market growth remain unchanged: very high investment costs, long construction times of 10 to 15 years in a rapidly changing energy market environment with uncertain conditions until commissioning, as well as significant financing risks that in practice can usually only be borne by state actors. In addition, only a very limited number of companies are capable of planning, building and exporting nuclear power plants, most of which are state-owned enterprises.

Source: IWR Online, 28 Apr 2026