China has added more than 34 GW of nuclear power capacity in the past 10 years, nearly tripling its nuclear capacity, according to the latest US Energy Information Administration (EIA) analysis.
The country has increased its number of operating nuclear reactors to 55 with a total net capacity of 53.2 GW, as of April 2024. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official nuclear power reactor database, says China has 56 plants in operation with a total net capacity of 54.1 GW.
The EIA said an additional 23 reactors with an estimated 23.7 GW capacity are under construction in China. The IAEA puts this at 25 under construction with 26.3 GW net capacity.
The US still has the largest commercial nuclear fleet, with 94 reactors, but it took nearly 40 years to add the same nuclear power capacity as China added in 10 years.