China is the current king of new nuclear power construction. The US is attempting to launch a comeback, but its still unknown whether that will be successful.

Key points

  • China has 21 nuclear reactors under construction which will have a capacity for generating 21.61 gigawatts of electricity, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. That is more than two and a half times more nuclear reactors under construction than any other country.
  • China’s drive to build nuclear energy is twofold: It’s got a massive demand for energy to meet, and it’s reliance on coal to meet its energy demand in recent decades have left it with dirty air. Nuclear is a clean source of electricity.
  • The United States is attempting to launch a nuclear comeback, largely powered by new smaller modular rector designs, but it’s success in attaining its previous dominance is up for grabs at this point, experts say.