China has approved eight new nuclear reactors across four projects to reach 110 gigawatts of capacity by 2030. The State Council of China authorized the construction of the units in Zhejiang, Guangdong, Liaoning, and Shandong provinces.
The projects require a total investment exceeding 170 billion yuan, which is equal to about 25.2 billion dollars. The expansion forms part of China's 15th Five-Year Plan for the 2026-2030 period. Six of the approved units will use China's third-generation Hualong One reactor design, while the remaining two units will feature the higher-capacity Guohe One, also known as the CAP1400 design.
The latest approvals mark the first major nuclear energy expansion step under the new five-year plan. Beijing has accelerated reactor approvals since 2022, granting permits for 11 units in 2024 and 10 units in 2025. China currently operates about 60 nuclear reactors with a total capacity of nearly 68.5 gigawatts. Another 58 units with a combined capacity of about 69.5 gigawatts are under construction, matching the current operational fleet.
Nuclear capacity and power generation
If China reaches its target of 110 gigawatts by 2030, it will surpass the United States as the world's largest nuclear energy producer. Industry observers consider the goal achievable given China's current construction pace and approval rate.
The expansion comes as electricity demand rises across the country. The load on China's national power grid set new records three times since early July 2026, reaching 1.553 billion kilowatts. Data from the National Energy Administration shows that energy consumption for electric vehicle charging and data centers grew by more than 40 percent in the first half of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
Nuclear plants provide constant power around the clock, unlike solar and wind installations that depend on weather conditions. Beijing is building a broader energy system by expanding solar, wind, hydroelectric, nuclear, and energy storage capacity at the same time to supply continuous power to data centers and industrial hubs.
Coal reduction and long-term energy goals
Changes in energy policy have reduced coal's share in China's electricity generation. Coal produced 49.7 percent of the country's power in the first half of 2026, dropping below 50 percent for the first time. Renewable energy sources generated 41.2 percent of electricity during the same period.
China's nuclear roadmap extends beyond the end of the decade. Long-term projections by the China Nuclear Energy Association indicate that installed nuclear capacity could reach about 200 gigawatts by 2040 and 335 gigawatts by 2050.
The government plans to rely primarily on third-generation pressurized water reactors while accelerating development on small modular reactors and fourth-generation nuclear designs.
