Solar surpasses nuclear power globally for first time
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
Solar generation surpassed nuclear power globally for the first time in 2025.
The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2026 finds solar generation exceeded nuclear globally in 2025, with solar capacity up 27% to 2,383 GW and wind up 14% to 1,291 GW. Nuclear capacity rose just 1.5 GW to 399.5 GW, while operating nuclear capacity declined. Battery storage deployment accelerated, with 104 GW and 257 GWh added in 2025. Nuclear's share of global electricity fell to 8.8%, the lowest in 45 years. Small modular reactor progress remains limited, with long construction times and heavy dependence on public funding. China dominates new nuclear builds, accounting for 53 of 104 reactor starts since 2006.
What commenters are saying
Commenters largely accept the milestone but note that solar's growth is recent and exponential, not a decades-long trend. Some question the narrative, pointing to China's nuclear expansion and Canada's planned additions as evidence nuclear is not dead. One camp argues solar and nuclear serve different grid roles, while another sees nuclear as effectively obsolete given solar's cost declines and battery integration. A few commenters critique solar's land use and aesthetics, but others counter with agrivoltaics and desert restoration benefits. The thread splits between those emphasizing the exponential trajectory of renewables and those cautioning against declaring nuclear irrelevant.