China Set to Lead Global Nuclear Power by 2035 as US Trails, Analysts Say

China is projected to overtake the United States and France to become the world's largest nuclear power producer within the next decade, according to Damien Ma, energy lead analyst at Gavekal Technologies. China added 34 gigawatts of nuclear capacity over the past decade, while the US added only one plant — Georgia's Vogtle facility. Ma said China can build a new nuclear plant in about six years versus over a decade for US reactors, citing construction efficiency gains. Beijing signed an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency on September 20, 2026, to share high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) expertise, covering research, reactor design, construction and supply chain information. The deal marks a shift toward knowledge-sharing in advanced nuclear technology. China is also pursuing thorium breeding, dual PWR-HTGR plants and supercritical CO2 generation as part of a vertically integrated advanced nuclear ecosystem.