China poised to lead global nuclear sector by 2035

China is on track to become the world’s leading producer of nuclear energy within the next decade, overtaking both the United States and France, according to a recent analysis by Gavekal Technologies. The report highlights the rapid expansion of China’s nuclear capacity and its growing dominance in advanced nuclear technologies. Damien Ma, the energy lead analyst at Gavekal Technologies, stated that China will have the world’s most dynamic and significant nuclear industry by 2035. This projection is supported by China’s superior construction efficiencies, which allow for the completion of new plants in approximately six years, a timeframe significantly shorter than the more than decade required for the latest Vogtle reactors in the United States.

The disparity in development speed is evident in recent capacity additions. While the United States added only one nuclear plant in the last decade, specifically the long-delayed and over-budget Plant Vogtle in Georgia, China added 34 gigawatts of capacity over the same period. Beijing’s latest five-year plan indicates no intention of slowing this momentum. The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nonprofit policy research organization, noted that nuclear energy underpins multiple strategic priorities for China, including energy security, technological innovation, and global engagement. The Chinese government is actively working to build the most advanced nuclear power sector in the world as part of a broader strategy to establish lasting dominance in the global energy sector. This includes innovative approaches to reactor design, deployment, and fuel usage, with the aim of becoming the world’s first electrostate.

China’s technological advancements extend to a vertically integrated advanced nuclear ecosystem. Reports indicate that the country has confirmed the world’s first in-reactor thorium breeding, developed a dual PWR-HTGR plant, and achieved commercial supercritical CO2 generation. This breadth of activity signals a coordinated push toward fuel independence and industrial deployment. In contrast, while the United States has expressed intentions to produce lasting American dominance in the global nuclear energy market and develop next-generation reactors and fusion technology, its advanced nuclear sector lags behind China in terms of spending and technological knowhow. The US is also attempting to reduce reliance on international nuclear fuel supply chains by building up domestic uranium extraction and enrichment capacities, but the pace of progress remains slower than its Chinese counterpart.

In a notable shift from its historically secretive approach to technological advancements, China has recently moved to share its expertise with the international community. Beijing signed a deal with the International Atomic Energy Agency to more freely share knowledge on high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, or HTGRs. These fourth-generation reactors are capable of producing nuclear energy at extremely high temperatures, which opens avenues for various industrial applications beyond electricity generation. The agreement covers cooperation in HTGR research and development, reactor design, construction, commissioning, and operation. It also includes the exchange of information on supply chains and personnel training. This development could provide other countries with greater access to China’s engineering experience with HTGRs, particularly as interest grows in nuclear systems that can supply both electricity and high-temperature industrial heat.

This cooperative approach offers a promising starting point for addressing borderless challenges such as climate change and the increasing energy demands of artificial intelligence. Advanced nuclear energy systems could serve as a critical source of clean energy, available around the clock. As global energy systems evolve, the ability to deploy such technologies efficiently and securely will be a key factor in determining future energy leadership. China’s combination of rapid construction, technological innovation, and willingness to share knowledge positions it as a central player in the global nuclear landscape through 2035 and beyond.