The global nuclear industry continues to face significant stagnation as renewable energy sources rapidly overtake traditional atomic power. In 2025, the permanent closure of Taiwan’s Maanshan-2 reactor marked the end of nuclear power for the island nation, which now joins a growing list of countries abandoning the technology. While 4.4 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity were added globally, this figure was dwarfed by an estimated 793 gigawatts of new solar and wind installations. With only a handful of countries actively building new reactors, the sector’s global electricity share has plummeted to just 9.0 percent.
The recent decommissioning of the 938-MW Maanshan-2 pressurized water reactor in Pingtung County signifies a broader trend of decline within the nuclear sector. According to the latest World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR), 2025 was a particularly underwhelming year for the industry. Only four new reactors commenced operations—located in China, Russia, and India—representing the lowest number of startups since 2017. This modest growth was largely offset by seven permanent shutdowns in Belgium, Russia, and Taiwan, resulting in a marginal net capacity increase of only 1.6 gigawatts.
The geographical footprint of nuclear energy is also shrinking. The number of countries currently constructing new plants has dropped from 16 to 11 in just two years. Major economies, including the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates, have completed their recent projects with no immediate successors, while nations like Brazil and Japan have suspended construction. Currently, only 31 countries operate commercial nuclear plants, with Taiwan becoming the fifth nation to completely phase out its nuclear program, following the paths of Italy, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, and Germany.
In contrast, the renewable energy sector is experiencing exponential growth. Over the last decade, electricity generated from renewable sources has tripled that of nuclear power. In the European Union, the combination of solar and wind now provides 30 percent of the region’s electricity, successfully overtaking fossil fuels at 29 percent. Nuclear power in the EU has fallen to just 23.4 percent of the total generation. Even in China, the world’s most active nuclear market with 36 reactors currently under construction, the technology is being outpaced. China’s new solar capacity in 2025 alone reached an estimated 275 gigawatts, while its nuclear share of generation has declined for four consecutive years.
Safety and security concerns continue to shadow the industry’s future. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the vulnerability of nuclear infrastructure, with the Zaporizhzhia plant remaining in a volatile state and the Chernobyl site suffering drone damage. Historically, nuclear facilities have also been targets of military strikes intended to prevent weapons proliferation, a risk that remains a deterrent for many nations considering new builds.
While organizations like the World Nuclear Association project that global capacity could triple by 2050, analysts remain skeptical. Most of this projected growth lacks firm investment or identified projects. With the global reactor fleet aging and a lack of progress in “Generation IV” or small modular reactors, the industry faces a likely future of continued stagnation. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency predicts that renewables will meet 90 percent of global electricity demand growth through 2030, eventually out-generating nuclear power by a factor of five to seven.