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The World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2026 says global solar generation exceeded nuclear output for the first time in 2025, while wind had already passed nuclear on a monthly basis. Solar and wind each outgenerated nuclear in every month from March 2025 through June 2026, according to the report; the timing marks a shift in global electricity generation, not the end of nuclear power.
Global solar power generation surpassed nuclear generation in 2025 for the first time, according to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR) 2026. The report says solar output rose 30% during the year, while nuclear generation increased 1.1%, marking a shift in the annual balance between the two sources of electricity.
The report, overseen by French nuclear energy consultant Mycle Schneider, also records a series of monthly milestones. Wind generation exceeded nuclear in March 2025, and solar followed in April. From March 2025 through June 2026, either solar or wind individually generated more electricity than nuclear in every month. Both sources did so independently in March, April and May 2026.
Capacity figures show sharply different growth rates. WNISR says global solar capacity rose by 510 gigawatts to 2,383 GW in 2025, a 27% year-on-year increase. Wind added a record 159 GW, reaching 1,291 GW. Installed nuclear capacity increased by 1.5 GW to 399.5 GW, while operating nuclear capacity fell by 0.5 GW to 368.6 GW, according to the report.
The report uses a relatively conservative estimate for solar additions. It notes that IEA PVPS data put 2025 global photovoltaic additions at about 690 GW, roughly 180 GW above WNISR’s figure. The two estimates use different data sources; the report says the higher estimate would mean an even larger gap in solar capacity growth. It does not change the reported comparison of annual electricity generation.
Solar’s Growth Reshapes the Generation Balance
The comparison matters because it measures electricity actually generated, not just installed capacity. Solar’s reported 30% increase in output substantially outpaced nuclear’s 1.1% rise, while nuclear’s share of global electricity generation fell to 8.8% in 2025, its lowest level in four and a half decades, according to WNISR. The report places that against a peak of 17.5% in 1996.
For power systems, fast-growing solar also increases the need to manage generation that varies with sunlight and weather. WNISR points to the expansion of battery storage as one factor that could support further photovoltaic growth. It says 104 GW and 257 gigawatt-hours of grid-scale battery storage were connected in 2025, and more than 78% of cumulative battery energy-storage capacity had been installed between 2023 and 2025.
The figures do not mean nuclear plants have stopped contributing or that solar can supply electricity at every hour. They show that, at the global level, solar generation has grown enough to exceed nuclear’s annual output, while the technologies retain different roles and operating characteristics.
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Nuclear Output and Construction Trends
Nuclear generation reached 2,703 terawatt-hours in 2025, up 1.1% from the previous year, according to WNISR. The increase was driven largely by a 7.6% rise in China. Outside China, nuclear generation fell 0.2% and remained below its 2006 level. The report says the global nuclear fleet’s output has been broadly constrained by limited growth in much of the world, even as new projects proceed.
As of July 1, 2026, the report counted 411 operating reactors in 31 countries, excluding 30 units in long-term outage. It also recorded 73 reactors under construction, the highest number since 1987, with 37 in China. But construction delays remain common: none of the 16 reactors connected to the grid from 2023 to 2025 was completed on schedule, and their average construction period was 10.9 years.
The report’s capacity comparisons also depend on definitions. Installed nuclear capacity and operating capacity are separate measures, and neither directly represents how much electricity plants produce over a year. The generation comparison is the basis for the report’s claim that solar passed nuclear annually in 2025.
“The reality of the nuclear industry on the ground is quite sobering for those who expected to find a booming sector.”
— Mycle Schneider, overseer of WNISR 2026, speaking to pv magazine
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Limits of the Global Comparison
The report establishes a global comparison, but it does not mean solar generation exceeded nuclear in every country or at every hour. Country-level results and the timing of electricity production vary. The figures summarized in the source material do not provide a full breakdown of how generation was distributed by region or how the comparison changes under different accounting methods.
Solar capacity estimates also differ: WNISR uses a conservative figure for 2025 additions, while IEA PVPS data cited in the report puts additions substantially higher. The source material does not detail the methods behind each estimate, so the difference cannot be resolved here. The broad direction of growth is clear in the report, but the precise capacity gap depends on which estimate is used.
WNISR’s nuclear figures include distinct measures for installed and operating capacity, and the report’s status date for reactor counts is July 1, 2026. Further data may change the figures as national statistics are updated. The report’s annual generation comparison concerns 2025, while its monthly comparison runs through June 2026.
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More Data Will Test the Trend
The next marker will be whether solar and wind continue to outgenerate nuclear in monthly comparisons as new generation and updated national data are reported. WNISR’s current monthly series runs through June 2026; the source material does not specify a date for a follow-up release or provide projections for the rest of the year.
Battery deployment and grid capacity will also shape how much of the added solar generation can be used when it is produced. The report identifies falling battery costs as a potential support for continued photovoltaic expansion, but it does not quantify how much storage would be needed or forecast its effect on future generation shares. Further reporting should distinguish confirmed output data from forecasts and from capacity announcements.
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Key Questions
What does it mean that solar surpassed nuclear?
It means global solar electricity generation for 2025 exceeded global nuclear generation, according to WNISR 2026. It does not mean solar produced more electricity than nuclear in every country or at every hour.
When did solar first pass nuclear?
The report says solar first exceeded nuclear generation on a monthly basis in April 2025. Its annual comparison shows solar generation surpassed nuclear for the full year 2025.
Did wind also surpass nuclear?
Yes. WNISR says wind exceeded nuclear on a monthly basis in March 2025. From March 2025 through June 2026, either solar or wind individually generated more electricity than nuclear each month.
Is nuclear power shrinking?
Not in every measure. Nuclear generation rose 1.1% in 2025, largely because of growth in China, but its share of global electricity generation fell to 8.8%. The report also says installed nuclear capacity increased slightly while operating capacity declined.
Why do solar capacity estimates differ?
WNISR used a conservative estimate of solar additions, while IEA PVPS data cited in the report puts 2025 photovoltaic additions at about 690 GW, around 180 GW higher. The supplied material does not explain the methodological differences in detail.
Source: hn
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