Nuclear Plant Operations, Fuel, and Instrumentation Market Report 2026

The nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $114.62 billion in 2025 to $119.24 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to expansion of commercial nuclear power plants, established uranium fuel supply chains, deployment of conventional instrumentation systems, long-term plant operation cycles, regulatory-driven safety upgrades.

The nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $138.86 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to increasing deployment of AI-driven plant monitoring, rising adoption of advanced and alternative fuels, expansion of SMR-based operations, growing investments in nuclear plant automation, increasing focus on fuel efficiency and lifecycle optimization. Major trends in the forecast period include increasing adoption of digital control and monitoring systems, rising use of advanced nuclear fuels, growing integration of predictive maintenance technologies, expansion of automated safety and protection systems, enhanced focus on fuel recycling and waste optimization.

The increasing demand for energy is expected to drive the growth of the nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market. Energy is required to perform various tasks and power systems, often generated from sources such as fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable resources. As energy consumption rises due to the growing need for electricity in daily activities, including heating, cooling, transportation, and the use of electronic devices, the demand for power continues to surge. Nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation help meet this demand by facilitating efficient and reliable power generation through the management of reactor systems, optimized fuel usage, and precise control and monitoring of plant processes. For example, in December 2024, a report from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), a UK-based government department, highlighted that renewable energy generation reached a record-high 32.2 TWh in the third quarter, reflecting a 6.5% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, total final energy consumption grew by 1.7% compared to the third quarter of 2023. As a result, the increasing energy demand is driving the growth of the nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market.

Companies in the nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market are focusing on developing innovative technologies such as nuclear generative AI systems to improve efficiency, safety, and fuel optimization. A nuclear generative AI system is an artificial intelligence framework designed specifically to enhance nuclear plant operations by analyzing large data sets, optimizing reactor performance, and predicting maintenance needs. In September 2024, Westinghouse Electric Company, a US-based provider of nuclear power solutions, launched the Hive Nuclear-Specific Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) System. This system includes the Bertha Nuclear Large Language Model (LLM), an AI model tailored for the nuclear industry. It provides advanced analytics, predictive maintenance, and enhanced fuel safety by leveraging cutting-edge AI and deep nuclear expertise. This system offers real-time insights that optimize reactor lifecycle management, from design and licensing to operations and maintenance, ensuring improved efficiency and reliability.

In January 2025, Curtiss-Wright Corporation, a US-based engineering company offering highly engineered products and services, acquired Ultra Energy for $200 million. This acquisition enables Curtiss-Wright to strengthen its position in the nuclear energy sector, enhance its capabilities in providing advanced technology solutions, and expand its portfolio of products and services related to nuclear plant operations, instrumentation, and safety systems. Ultra Energy, a US-based company, specializes in safety-critical measurement and control systems for the nuclear industry.

Major companies operating in the nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market are Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, GE Vernova Inc., Baker Hughes Company, Doosan Enerbility, Framatome, leonardo DRS, ATS Corporation, BWX Technologies Inc., Bilfinger Nuclear & Energy Transition GmbH, Mirion Technologies Inc., Sargent & Lundy, Exosens, Kinectrics Inc., Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Tema India Pvt. Ltd., X Energy LLC, CORE Energy Systems Ltd., KROHNE Group, Nuclear Engineering Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market in 2025. The regions covered in the nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market consists of revenues earned by entities providing services such as plant management and maintenance, fuel cycle management, and instrumentation calibration and maintenance. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The nuclear plant operations, fuel, and instrumentation market also includes sales of reactor coolant pumps (RCPS), uranium fuel assemblies, and radiation detectors and monitors. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

This product will be delivered within 1-3 business days.