Nuclear Power Plant Market Report 2026

The nuclear power plant market size has grown steadily in recent years. It will grow from $33.53 billion in 2025 to $34.61 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.2%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to growing global demand for reliable baseload electricity generation, increasing construction of large-scale nuclear reactors to meet rising energy needs, advancements in reactor safety systems improving operational reliability, expansion of fuel supply and enrichment capabilities supporting reactor operations, rising investment in maintenance and life-extension programs for aging nuclear fleets.

The nuclear power plant market size is expected to see steady growth in the next few years. It will grow to $38.77 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.9%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of small modular reactors offering flexible and cost-efficient deployment, increasing emphasis on low-carbon energy transition driving nuclear power expansion, rising demand for advanced reactor designs with enhanced safety and efficiency, expansion of nuclear decommissioning and waste management services as older plants retire, accelerating development of next-generation fuel assemblies to improve performance and sustainability. Major trends in the forecast period include expansion of small modular reactors (smrs) for flexible and modular nuclear deployment, increasing focus on nuclear power plant life-extension, modernization, and uprating projects, rising adoption of nuclear power for non-electric applications such as desalination and industrial process heat, strengthening international collaboration on nuclear safety standards, licensing harmonization, and non-proliferation, growing emphasis on decommissioning services, radioactive waste management, and spent fuel solutions.

The growing demand for electricity is anticipated to drive the expansion of the nuclear power plant market in the future. Electricity, which is the flow of electric charge typically through conductors like wires, serves as an energy source to power devices, machinery, and systems. This demand is rising due to rapid urbanization, as expanding urban areas require increased power to support residential, commercial, and industrial activities. Nuclear power plants meet this rising electricity demand by providing a stable, large-scale source of low-carbon energy, ensuring a reliable supply for growing populations and industries. They strengthen energy infrastructure by delivering consistent power output, efficiently and sustainably addressing increasing consumption requirements. For example, in May 2025, the International Energy Agency, a France-based intergovernmental organization, reported that total net electricity generation in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reached 904.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) in February 2025, marking a 4% increase compared to February 2024. Consequently, the increasing electricity demand is propelling the growth of the nuclear power plant market.

Leading companies in the nuclear power plant market are focusing on developing advanced reactor technologies, such as single-loop pressurized water reactors, to improve safety, enhance efficiency, and reduce construction costs. A single-loop pressurized water reactor (PWR) is a nuclear reactor design where the reactor coolant circulates through a single closed loop, transferring heat from the reactor core to the steam generator. For instance, in May 2023, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, a US-based nuclear power firm, introduced the AP300 small modular reactor (SMR), a 300-MWe single-loop pressurized water reactor. Building on the proven technology of the AP1000 reactor, the AP300 features a compact footprint, passive safety systems that require no operator intervention or backup power, and an expected operational life exceeding 80 years. It provides reliable, safe, and clean electricity, along with additional applications such as district heating and water desalination. Its fast load-following capability makes it well-suited for integration with renewable energy sources.

In November 2023, Cameco Corporation, a Canada-based uranium mining and nuclear fuel production company, along with Brookfield Corporation, a Canadian investment management firm, acquired Westinghouse Electric Company for $8.2 billion. Through this acquisition, Cameco aims to foster strategic growth by combining its fuel expertise with Brookfield’s strengths in clean energy, thereby strengthening Westinghouse’s position in delivering secure, emissions-free nuclear energy. Westinghouse Electric Company is a US-based nuclear technology firm specializing in the design, construction, and maintenance of nuclear power plants.

Major companies operating in the nuclear power plant market are Siemens Energy; GE Vernova; Mitsubishi Heavy Industries; EDF; Rosatom; China National Nuclear Corporation; Framatome; Toshiba; Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy; Westinghouse Electric Company; BWX Technologies; Babcock & Wilcox; Bechtel; Doosan Enerbility; TerraPower; X-energy; NuScale Power; SNC-Lavalin (CANDU); Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power; Rolls-Royce SMR; Holtec International; Fluor Corporation; Ansaldo Energia; Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited; Jacobs Engineering Group.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the nuclear power plant market in 2025. North America is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the nuclear power plant market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa.

Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report’s Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.

Tariffs on nuclear-grade equipment, steel, specialty alloys, and control systems are increasing capital costs and lengthening project timelines for nuclear power plants, particularly in segments such as reactor cores, steam generators, turbines, and containment structures. These impacts are most pronounced in regions that rely heavily on imported components and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) services, such as developing Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Europe, and are especially critical for advanced and small modular reactor technologies. Electricity generation projects and large utility-scale reactors face the greatest cost pressures, while research facilities and desalination projects may see delays in new build and upgrade plans. At the same time, tariffs are encouraging localization of manufacturing, regional supply chain development, and technology partnerships, which can foster domestic industry growth and long-term resilience in the nuclear power plant market.

The nuclear power plant market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides nuclear power plant market statistics, including the nuclear power plant industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with the nuclear power plant market share, detailed nuclear power plant market segments, market trends, and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the nuclear power plant industry. These nuclear power plant market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenarios of the industry.

A nuclear power plant is a facility that produces electricity by harnessing nuclear reactions, usually through nuclear fission, to generate heat. This heat is then used to convert water into steam, which drives turbines connected to generators to create electrical power. The primary purpose of a nuclear power plant is to supply a dependable and large-scale source of low-carbon electricity for industrial, commercial, and residential needs.

The primary types of nuclear reactors employed in power plants include pressurized water reactors (PWR), boiling water reactors (BWR), pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR), gas-cooled reactors (GCR), and others. A pressurized water reactor (PWR) functions by using high-pressure water as both a coolant and a neutron moderator, enabling heat transfer without boiling the water. Key components include the reactor core, steam generator, control rods, among others, and incorporate various technologies such as conventional nuclear technology, advanced nuclear technology, generation IV reactors, small modular reactor technology, and research and development in next-generation reactors. These reactors serve a variety of applications, including electricity generation, desalination, research reactors, and more, catering to end-user industries like electric power generation, industrial manufacturing, desalination plants, research facilities, and healthcare and medical sectors.

The countries covered in the nuclear power plant market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The nuclear power plant market consists of revenues earned by entities by providing services such as reactor design and engineering, plant construction, fuel supply, maintenance and upgrades, decommissioning, and safety system integration. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The nuclear power plant market also includes sales of steam turbines, cooling systems, instrumentation and control systems, fuel assemblies, containment structures, auxiliary systems, nuclear reactors, and reactor components. 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.

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