Nuclear Power Hits Record Low, Providing Only 9% of Global Electricity

Nuclear reactors accounted for just 9 percent of the world’s commercial electricity in 2023, marking the lowest share of global energy production from nuclear power in four decades. This figure was reported by the Green Citizens’ Action Alliance and associated environmental organizations at a news conference held in Taipei. The data was sourced from The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2025, which emphasizes the increasing role of renewable energy in addressing climate change.

Despite achieving a record growth rate of 2.9 percent in raw output, the significance of nuclear energy has diminished sharply. Researcher Chen Shih-ting noted that the current share of nuclear power represents a 45 percent decline from its peak of 17.5 percent in 1996. Projections indicate that renewable sources, particularly wind and solar, are expected to surpass nuclear energy within the next five years.

The report anticipates the decommissioning of 243 nuclear reactors by 2050, resulting in a reduction of nuclear energy output by 203 gigawatts, considering potential delays. These findings highlight a significant shift in the global energy landscape as countries transition towards more sustainable energy sources.

Chen Bing-huei, a professor of mechanical engineering at National Taiwan University, pointed out that authoritarian regimes are behind 58 out of 63 planned nuclear power plants globally. A majority of these projects are led by China, which concurrently invests heavily in solar energy technologies.

The outlook for small modular reactors remains cautious. According to Chao Chia-wei, director of the Taiwan Climate Action Network Research Center, even the most optimistic estimates predict that these reactors will account for no more than 5 percent of global nuclear energy generation by 2050. He also noted that these new technologies could produce two to thirty times more radioactive waste than current-generation reactors, compounding the challenges associated with nuclear energy.

In a broader context, Paul Jobin, an associate research fellow at the Academia Sinica Institute of Sociology, remarked on Taiwan’s increasing reliance on natural gas while delaying the development of renewable energy. He described this trend as a form of “gas poisoning,” critiquing the country’s energy policies.

As the world grapples with the pressing need to combat climate change, these developments highlight the critical importance of accelerating the transition to renewable energy sources. The findings from the report underscore the diminishing role of nuclear power and the urgent need for a strategic shift towards sustainable alternatives.