China's overall nuclear power footprint, including units both in operation and approved for construction, has reached a world-leading 125 million kilowatts, driven by a rising number of new projects, according to an industry blue book released on Friday.

The China Nuclear Energy Development Report 2026, published by the China Nuclear Energy Association, said that the country currently boasts a total of 112 operational or approved units, with a combined capacity of 125 million kW, securing the global top spot.

Among these, 60 units are in commercial operation, generating 63.69 million kW and ranking third worldwide. Meanwhile, the report noted that, by the end of 2025, China's capacity for nuclear power under construction had maintained its position as the global leader for 19 consecutive years.

With this robust pipeline, China's operational nuclear capacity is expected to surpass that of the United States before 2030, making it the world's largest. This milestone will provide solid support for the construction of a new power system and the realization of the nation's energy powerhouse strategy, the report said.

At the association's nuclear energy sustainable development forum held in Beijing on Friday, Yang Changli, rotating chairman of the association, said that the global nuclear energy industry is ushering in a renaissance, and that China has entered a stage of accelerated development.

"During the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period, socioeconomic demand for energy and electricity, coupled with the nation's dual-carbon goals, will provide ample room for the development of nuclear power. China's installed nuclear power capacity is expected to reach 200 million kW by 2040," Yang said.

While scaling up rapidly, China has also maintained an internationally advanced safety record. During the 2021-25 period, the country's nuclear array generated over 2 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 1.53 billion metric tons.

Industry experts also said that the reliable nature of nuclear energy is crucial for emerging high-tech sectors.

Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, said that nuclear power is well-positioned to support high-load, nonstop facilities, such as artificial intelligence data centers, as it is a stable, reliable and zero-carbon baseload energy source.

This aligns with surging global demand. According to forecasts by the International Energy Agency, global IT loads are expected to increase by a cumulative increment of 106 gigawatts between 2025 and 2030, driven by the rapid growth of generative AI and the training of large-scale models.

The pace of development remains accelerated this year. According to the report, construction of two new nuclear power units is set to begin in 2026, with seven units scheduled for completion and entry into commercial operation before the end of the year.

One of the major projects expected to come online this year is Unit 1 of the San'ao Nuclear Power Plant in Zhejiang province, which is managed by China General Nuclear Power Group — the country's largest nuclear power plant operator in terms of installed capacity.

Scheduled to start operations in the first half, the San'ao plant will be the first "Hualong One" reactor to be deployed in the economically vibrant Yangtze River Delta region.

It is the country's first nuclear power project to feature private capital participation, with approximately 2,000 private enterprises involved in various critical fields since construction began, including equipment manufacturing, sophisticated maintenance services and complex engineering construction.

According to the group, this inclusive model has enabled private players to directly share the substantial economic dividends generated by major national infrastructure projects.