Nuclear outpaced fourteen to one by wind and solar in Europe

The briefing argues that nuclear power is an impractical solution for near-term climate targets in Europe and Australia due to systemic delays, high costs, and a high rate of project cancellations. In Europe, utility-scale wind and solar capacity under construction or in pre-construction outweighs nuclear by fourteen to one, and solar generation surpassed nuclear in the EU for the first time in mid-2025. In Australia, the document concludes that nuclear is unlikely to replace coal by 2038 because construction timelines—estimated by CSIRO to be at least five years longer than the global average—would require groundbreaking by the end of 2025. Globally, the Global Nuclear Power Tracker indicates that 38% of all proposed nuclear capacity (566 GW) has been cancelled.

• Globally, nuclear project cancellations are extensive, with 38% of all proposed capacity—amounting to 566 GW—having been cancelled. This figure exceeds the combined total of currently operational (401 GW) and retired (116 GW) capacity.
• In Europe, nuclear energy is hindered by an aging fleet, where over 90% of the 157 GW of operating capacity comes from reactors more than 35 years old. The sector has seen 112 GW of planned capacity cancelled and 68 GW retired. Furthermore, utility-scale solar and wind capacity in pre-construction or construction (over 600 GW) is fourteen times greater than that of nuclear.
• EU electricity generation trends show a decline in nuclear's share, falling from 25% in 2005 to under 20% in 2024. By mid-2025, total solar generation (22.1%) surpassed nuclear (21.8%) for the first time within the EU.
• Major European nuclear projects using the European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) design, including Hinkley Point C, Flamanville 3, and Olkiluoto 3, have faced cost overruns and delays exceeding ten years. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are not expected to be deployed before the early 2030s.
• Nuclear power is deemed an infeasible replacement for Australia's coal-fired fleet, which is planned for retirement by 2038. The CSIRO estimates Australian nuclear construction would take approximately thirteen years—five years longer than the global average—meaning projects would need to start construction by the end of 2025 to be operational by 2038.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2025). Nuclear outpaced fourteen to one by wind and solar in Europe. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-nuclear-brief-Sept-2025_3.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. Nuclear outpaced fourteen to one by wind and solar in Europe. 2025. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-nuclear-brief-Sept-2025_3.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=Nuclear outpaced fourteen to one by wind and solar in Europe |date=September 2025 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-nuclear-brief-Sept-2025_3.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2025nuclear, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{Nuclear outpaced fourteen to one by wind and solar in Europe}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2025}, month = sep, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/GEM-nuclear-brief-Sept-2025_3.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }