Solar Power Outpaces Nuclear Energy Globally in 2025
Annual generation from solar sources surpassed nuclear output for the first time in 2025.
Updated on Oct. 19, 2026 in Energy
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In 2025, solar power production overtook global nuclear energy generation. This shift reflects significant growth in solar infrastructure alongside a decline in nuclear capacity outside of China.
Why it matters
The transition highlights the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity as nuclear output faces challenges, including long construction timelines for new reactors. Falling battery costs are also driving the shift by enabling greater reliability for intermittent sources like solar.
Global solar capacity grew 27% to 2,383 GW in 2025, supported by 104 GW of new grid-scale battery deployments. Conversely, nuclear reactor construction between 2023 and 2025 averaged 10.9 years to completion.
The players
Ember
Ember is a global energy think tank that provides analysis and data on power sector transitions.
The details
While nuclear output rose 1.1% globally in 2025, this growth was driven entirely by a 7.6% increase in China, while capacity declined elsewhere. Operating nuclear capacity fell by 0.5 GW to 368.6 GW during the same period.
Timeline
1996: Global nuclear power share peaked at 17.5%.
March 2025: Monthly wind generation first surpassed nuclear levels.
April 2025: Monthly solar generation first surpassed nuclear levels.
2025: Solar power surpassed annual global nuclear electricity production.
2026: Ember projects solar and wind will collectively overtake nuclear annually.
The Big Picture
The shift away from nuclear power marks a clear departure from the 1996 peak of 17.5% global electricity share. This transition suggests a structural paradigm shift toward decentralized renewable energy sources supported by large-scale storage technologies.
The surge in solar and battery deployment may accelerate the availability of cheaper, renewable-backed electricity for consumers. As grid-scale storage scales, households can expect increased stability and lower costs compared to traditional, long-gestation energy projects.
The takeaway
The data suggests that the era of renewable energy as a primary power source has arrived. Readers should expect continued volatility in energy mix statistics as battery costs continue to drive adoption rates for solar and wind.
What happens next
Ember projects that both solar and wind power will collectively overtake nuclear energy on an annual basis in 2026.
Further reading
For more context on global power trends, visit our Energy section.
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