2:38 pm - September 2, 2025
Global nuclear output rose to a record in 2024, led by Asia and the Middle East as Western fleets age and policy headwinds bite; new-builds such as Barakah and Vogtle signal a shift in the energy balance.
Global nuclear power output climbed to a new high in 2024, though the gains weren’t felt evenly across regions. Estimates differ slightly depending on the method used, but the core message is consistent: expansion was broad-based, with non-OECD countries doing most of the heavy lifting while the traditional Western leaders faced aging fleets, policy headwinds, and, in some cases, retirements. Global annual output for 2024 sits roughly in the 2,600 to 2,820 terawatt-hours range, and the longer arc shows a gradual recovery since the post-Fukushima lull, even as the world’s nuclear center of gravity shifts. (oilprice.com, world-nuclear.org, ember-energy.org)
Asia Pacific, led by a sharp uptick in China’s output, has become the focal point of that shift. The region’s share of global nuclear generation has risen markedly over the past decade, and many commentators now describe it as the new center of gravity for the sector. In 2024, China again loomed large: a mix of reactor restarts after outages and steady new connections helped push regional growth higher, with the sector on track to contribute a sizable slice of Asia’s power mix. Industry reporting highlights China’s 2024 performance and a broader Asian renaissance in nuclear capacity, alongside continued expansion in the UAE and South Korea. The broader picture is underscored by independent trackers showing a multi-year recovery in Asia’s nuclear output, even as Europe and North America wrestle with retirements or policy shifts. (world-nuclear-news.org, ember-energy.org)
The United States remains the largest single national contributor, balancing a long-running story of stable output with a notable breakthrough in new-build capacity. Vogtle Units 3 and 4 — the first newly built U.S. reactors in more than three decades — began supplying power to the grid in 2023 and 2024, respectively. When fully online, the two units will add around 2.2 gigawatts of clean capacity, powering more than a million homes and marking a rare moment of tangible nuclear expansion in a country where much growth has come from extending the life of existing plants. Operators and the wider utility community stress safety, reliability, and the role Vogtle plays in diversifying the nation’s energy mix. Speaking with the media, Georgia Power notes Unit 4’s commercial operation in April 2024, following grid connection earlier in the year, with the project framed as a model for future new-build, carbon-free generation in North America. (georgiapower.com)
Elsewhere, the United Arab Emirates has completed the four-unit Barakah fleet and demonstrates the potential for rapid, large-scale nuclear deployment amid a crowded energy landscape. Unit 4 reached commercial operation in September 2024, delivering around 40 terawatt-hours of clean electricity each year and supplying up to a quarter of the UAE’s demand. ENEC framed the milestone as a landmark for the nation’s Net Zero trajectory, arguing Barakah’s output underpins grid stability while expanding the country’s clean energy mix. Earlier in 2024, Unit 4 was connected to the grid, adding 1.4 gigawatts of capacity and marking a critical step toward full-fleet operation. ENEC executives highlighted safety, quality, and transparency as central to the programme’s success. (enec.gov.ae)
Western Europe presents a contrasting picture. A once-dominant nuclear region has faced a blend of maintenance outages, political uncertainty, and deliberate phase-outs in several countries. France, long the benchmark for nuclear reliability, endured years of outages and policy headwinds that translated into lower output. Germany’s planned nuclear phase-out left it with a shrinking footprint, while Belgium, Switzerland, and Sweden have leaned toward retirements and life extensions. In contrast, Eastern Europe has shown more resilience and growth in several national fleets, with the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia expanding output even as Ukraine grappled with disruptions amid conflict. Taken together, the latest independent assessments describe a region marked by sharp contrasts between winners and losers as it redefines its energy security and decarbonisation pathways. (ember-energy.org)
A broad, cross-regional view from energy researchers highlights a few enduring themes. First, global nuclear generation remains near record highs, but the trajectory is uneven: Asia and the Middle East are accelerating, while Western Europe and North America face more modest or contracting paths. Second, reliability remains a core strength of existing fleets, with high capacity factors and steady performance even as the fleet ages and some plants undergo life extensions or uprates. World Nuclear Association data for 2023, updated through 2024, stress sustained high performance and the ongoing need for new-build activity to meet climate and energy-security goals. Third, the geographic shift is about more than just generation — it involves industrial policy, capital commitments, and regulator confidence, with major projects across the UAE, the United States, and Asia illustrating the global nature of today’s nuclear expansion. (world-nuclear-news.org, world-nuclear.org)
China’s part in this story epitomizes the regional pivot. World Nuclear News has reported rising outputs from China’s operators in 2024, while Chinese groups have publicly detailed multi-year plans that mix new reactors with ongoing maintenance and refueling cycles. In 2024, CGN and CNNC recorded higher outputs across their reactor fleets, reflecting both quicker connections and the maturation of existing units. The scale of China’s program — together with continued build-out in other Asian markets such as the UAE and South Korea — reinforces expectations that Asia will lead global growth in the medium term. (world-nuclear-news.org)
That momentum beyond the traditional hubs did not emerge from nowhere. Ember’s Global Electricity Review 2025 notes that nuclear electricity rose again in 2024, helping to underpin a broader upswing in low-carbon power alongside renewables. While nuclear’s share of global electricity remains below its long-term peak, the report emphasizes the stabilising role of restarted or newly commissioned units in grid reliability and deeper decarbonisation for demanding sectors. It also highlights four unit closures and 11 new units in 2024 — a net but modest expansion that points to a slower, more selective growth path in many developed markets. These dynamics matter for investors and policymakers as they weigh timing, capital intensity, and the resilience of different nuclear models in a rapidly changing energy system. (ember-energy.org)
Looking ahead, the energy landscape will keep being shaped by the twin imperatives of security and climate responsibility. In 2025, several developments sharpen that view: South Korea’s nuclear output rose strongly in the first half of 2025, helping shrink coal’s share and strengthen import resilience as policy support for nuclear deepens under the new administration. In Southeast Asia, governments are weighing nuclear as part of broader energy-transition strategies, considering small modular reactors and long-term capital commitments to stretch power security and emissions reductions. While the path is still debated in some advanced economies, the broader trend suggests Asia and the Middle East will outpace Western Europe and North America over the next decade. (reuters.com, apnews.com)
In short, 2024 delivered a record year for global nuclear power, albeit with a split personality. The world’s energy systems are increasingly dependent on a handful of regions that view nuclear as a core tool for both reliability and decarbonisation, while others reassess safety, cost, and public sentiment. The coming years will reveal whether this refocus — supported by policy commitments, major national programmes, and large-scale projects like Barakah and Vogtle — translates into sustained growth or yields to a more cautious, hybrid path for nuclear energy worldwide. The data now in hand suggest that the geopolitical center of gravity for nuclear is moving decisively east and south, with Asia and the Middle East at the forefront of the next phase of expansion. (oilprice.com, world-nuclear-news.org, enec.gov.ae, georgiapower.com)
Source Panel
– Global Nuclear Power Generation Hits Record High as Asia Surges Ahead (lead article)
– Nuclear fleet maintained high performance in 2023, World Nuclear News
– World Nuclear Performance Report / World Nuclear Association highlights (global generation, capacity, and regional performance)
– Global Electricity Review 2025, Ember
– UAE Barakah Unit 4 – commercial operation and grid connection announcements, ENEC
– Vogtle Units 3 & 4 media/press materials, Georgia Power
– South Korea’s nuclear power output surges (Reuters)
– Southeast Asia and nuclear energy considerations (AP News)
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/global-nuclear-power-generation-hits-record-high-asia-surges-ahead – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Nuclear-fleet-maintained-high-performance-in-2023 – World Nuclear News reports that in 2023 global nuclear electricity generation rose to just over 2,600 terawatt-hours, despite a small reduction in operable capacity. The average capacity factor climbed to about 81.5 per cent, underscoring reliability. The uptick was helped by the comeback of French reactors after outages, contributing around 42 TWh, and by new connections in Asia, including China, the UAE, South Korea and Pakistan. The article notes there were 437 operable reactors at year end, with six new constructions starting in 2023 and five grid connections, including Vogtle 3 in the United States. It emphasises continued high performance and calls for expansion.
- https://world-nuclear.org/our-association/publications/world-nuclear-performance-report/global-nuclear-industry-performance – Global Nuclear Industry Performance summarises the 2023 year for the world’s nuclear fleet. Total generation reached 2,602 TWh, up 58 TWh on 2022, and nuclear supplied around 9 per cent of global electricity. The Asia region drove much of the recovery with new connections in 2023 across China, the UAE, South Korea and Pakistan. End-of-year operable capacity stood at 392 GW, with 437 reactors in operation. France contributed notably to the rebound from outages, adding roughly 42 TWh. The report highlights a resilient fleet, high capacity factors, and a clear need for continued new-build activity to meet climate and energy security goals.
- https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025/global-electricity-source-trends/ – Nuclear generation rose by 2.5 per cent in 2024, reaching 2,768 TWh, the equivalent of about 9 per cent of the global electricity mix. Ember notes the increase was driven by French reactors returning from outages, the restart of some Japanese units, and a handful of new units commissioned worldwide. Despite the growth, nuclear’s share of electricity has declined as total demand expands. Four nuclear units closed in 2024, while 11 new units began operation, reflecting a net but smaller expansion. The US, France and Japan are highlighted among the major contributors to the year’s gains, with continued expectations for modest growth ahead.
- https://www.enec.gov.ae/news/latest-news/uae-celebrates-historic-milestone-as-unit-4-of-the-barakah-plant-commences-commercial-operation/ – ENEC celebrates Unit 4’s commercial operation at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in September 2024, completing the four-unit fleet. The firm states Barakah will generate around 40 terawatt hours of clean electricity annually, sufficient to satisfy roughly a quarter of the UAE’s demand. The milestone strengthens the UAE’s status as a regional leader in civil nuclear energy and supports its Net Zero ambitions. ENEC emphasises the project’s safety, quality and transparency, noting substantial annual carbon savings and the expansion of the country’s clean energy mix, with long-term benefits for industry and households alike.
- https://www.enec.gov.ae/news/latest-news/unit-4-of-barakah-nuclear-energy-plant-successfully-connected-to-uae-grid/ – ENEC reports that Unit 4 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant was connected to the UAE grid on 23 March 2024, marking a major step toward full‑fleet operation. The release notes that Unit 4 adds 1,400 MW of clean capacity and moves the four‑unit Barakah fleet closer to supplying up to 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity. It describes ramp‑up, testing, and regulatory compliance as power levels rise toward maximum output, while highlighting Barakah’s role in accelerating the UAE’s net‑zero and grid‑stability goals.
- https://www.georgiapower.com/about/energy/plants/plant-vogtle/units-3-4/vogtle-media.html – Georgia Power’s Vogtle media hub confirms that Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are the first new US nuclear units in over three decades. Unit 3 began commercial operation in July 2023, with Unit 4 following on 29 April 2024. When fully online, the four units will power more than one million homes and businesses, underscoring a major national expansion of carbon-free electricity. The site emphasises safety, reliability and the long service life of the plants, and notes the project’s significance for Georgia’s energy mix and the state’s ambitions for a modern, affordable, low-carbon energy future.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
✅ The narrative is current and tied to fresh reporting: the OilPrice piece by Robert Rapier is dated 16 August 2025 and was republished on ZeroHedge (republished/presented under Tyler Durden). ([oilprice.com](https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Global-Nuclear-Power-Hits-Record-High-as-Asia-Surges-Ahead.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [zerohedge.com](https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/global-nuclear-power-generation-hits-record-high-asia-surges-ahead)) 🕰️ The narrative draws on earlier, authoritative datasets (World Nuclear Association report 20 Aug 2024; Ember Global Electricity Review 2025 published in 2025; IEA/Global Energy Review material) rather than being entirely novel — this is appropriate for an analytical summary. ([world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [ember-energy.org](https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [iea.org](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2025/electricity?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) ⚠️ Republishing pattern: the ZeroHedge page clearly credits OilPrice and reproduces that piece; this is recycled content (republishing of an OilPrice article) rather than original reporting by ZeroHedge. ([zerohedge.com](https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/global-nuclear-power-generation-hits-record-high-asia-surges-ahead), [oilprice.com](https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Global-Nuclear-Power-Hits-Record-High-as-Asia-Surges-Ahead.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) 🟨 If the expectation was exclusive reporting, note the piece is not exclusive; it synthesises public reports. Because most of the underpinning data (WNA, Ember, ENEC, IEA) predate Aug 2025, the narrative is fresh in synthesis terms but reuses earlier published data. 🕰️ If similar narratives appeared more than 7 days earlier (WNA 20 Aug 2024; Ember GxR 2025 published earlier in 2025), that is explicitly flagged as background material rather than contradiction. ([world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [ember-energy.org](https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com))
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
⚠️ The piece contains few unique verbatim quotes; where quoted material or paraphrase appears (for example, ENEC/Barakah milestones and Georgia Power statements on Vogtle Unit 4), identical or very similar wording appears in primary press communications and industry press releases (ENEC press release 5 Sep 2024; ENEC grid-connection 23 Mar 2024; Georgia Power communications on Vogtle). ([enec.gov.ae](https://www.enec.gov.ae/news/latest-news/uae-celebrates-historic-milestone-as-unit-4-of-the-barakah-plant-commences-commercial-operation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) ✅ This indicates reuse of press-release language rather than exclusive interviews. If the article claims direct media interviews, those should be checked against the organisation press pages; the ENEC and World Nuclear Association materials contain the same milestone wording. ([enec.gov.ae](https://www.enec.gov.ae/news/latest-news/uae-celebrates-historic-milestone-as-unit-4-of-the-barakah-plant-commences-commercial-operation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) 🟨 No evidence of fabricated or attributed quotes not found elsewhere — but since quotes match earlier press materials, flag as reused/derived rather than original exclusives.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
✅ Much of the factual backbone comes from reputable institutional reporting: World Nuclear Association (World Nuclear Performance Report 2024), Ember (Global Electricity Review 2025), the IEA, ENEC (UAE Barakah press releases) and established wire coverage (Reuters). ([world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [ember-energy.org](https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [iea.org](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2025/electricity?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [enec.gov.ae](https://www.enec.gov.ae/news/latest-news/uae-celebrates-historic-milestone-as-unit-4-of-the-barakah-plant-commences-commercial-operation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/south-koreas-nuclear-power-output-surges-coal-use-plunges-2025-08-17/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) ✅ These are strengths: the technical generation figures and milestones have primary-publication traces. ⚠️ The immediate publisher in the provided URL (ZeroHedge) is a known aggregator that frequently republishes third-party content; the page explicitly credits OilPrice / Robert Rapier. That reduces the reliability of the hosting site as an originator (risk of republishing without additional verification). ([zerohedge.com](https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/global-nuclear-power-generation-hits-record-high-asia-surges-ahead), [oilprice.com](https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Global-Nuclear-Power-Hits-Record-High-as-Asia-Surges-Ahead.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) 🟨 Overall, the underlying data sources are authoritative, but the published item is a republished analysis — treat it as secondary commentary synthesising primary reports.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
✅ Main claims are plausible and corroborated: World Nuclear Association data show global nuclear generation near record levels and growth concentrated in Asia (WNA: 2,602 TWh in 2023; WNA and other trackers note rising Asian generation and new builds). ([world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) ✅ Ember and IEA analyses corroborate modest nuclear growth in 2024 alongside large renewable increases; Ember specifically notes a small increase in nuclear output for 2024 and provides unit-level counts and trends. ([ember-energy.org](https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) ✅ Country-level milestones are verifiable: ENEC confirms Barakah Unit 4 commercial operation (5 Sep 2024) and grid connection (23 Mar 2024); Georgia Power/utility materials confirm Vogtle units progression. ([enec.gov.ae](https://www.enec.gov.ae/news/latest-news/uae-celebrates-historic-milestone-as-unit-4-of-the-barakah-plant-commences-commercial-operation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) ⚠️ Minor numeric variance: the article uses a 2024 global output range (c.2,600–2,820 TWh). Primary agencies report 2602 TWh for 2023 (WNA) and different aggregators or reconstructions (statistical reviews cited by OilPrice) may produce slightly different 2024 totals — this explains the article’s range but should be highlighted. ([world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [oilprice.com](https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Global-Nuclear-Power-Hits-Record-High-as-Asia-Surges-Ahead.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) 🟨 If a surprising or novel claim appeared without corroboration (it does not here), it would be suspicious; in this case multiple independent datasets align with the core claim that 2024 saw renewed nuclear generation growth concentrated in Asia/Middle East.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
✅ Overall verdict: PASS — the narrative is a timely synthesis of credible primary materials (World Nuclear Association, Ember, IEA, ENEC, Reuters) and accurately reflects documented 2023–2024/early‑2025 trends (Asia-led growth, Barakah Unit 4 milestones, Vogtle units). ([world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [ember-energy.org](https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [iea.org](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2025/electricity?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [enec.gov.ae](https://www.enec.gov.ae/news/latest-news/uae-celebrates-historic-milestone-as-unit-4-of-the-barakah-plant-commences-commercial-operation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [reuters.com](https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/south-koreas-nuclear-power-output-surges-coal-use-plunges-2025-08-17/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) ⚠️ Major risks and caveats: (1) the presented webpage at the supplied URL is a republication/aggregation (ZeroHedge) of an OilPrice piece by Robert Rapier (16 Aug 2025) — this is recycled content rather than original reporting, so editors should treat ZeroHedge as a republisher and verify with the originating items. ([zerohedge.com](https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/global-nuclear-power-generation-hits-record-high-asia-surges-ahead), [oilprice.com](https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/Global-Nuclear-Power-Hits-Record-High-as-Asia-Surges-Ahead.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) (2) Some numerical ranges cited in the narrative reflect different aggregation methods used by industry compilations (hence the 2,600–2,820 TWh range); those methodological differences should be footnoted if precise attribution is required. ([world-nuclear.org](https://world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2024-highlights-increase-in-global-reactor-generation-performance-20-august-2024?utm_source=chatgpt.com), [ember-energy.org](https://ember-energy.org/latest-insights/global-electricity-review-2025?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) (3) Quotes and milestone language are largely lifted from press releases (ENEC, Georgia Power) and industry reports — they are not exclusive interviews and should be labelled accordingly. ([enec.gov.ae](https://www.enec.gov.ae/news/latest-news/uae-celebrates-historic-milestone-as-unit-4-of-the-barakah-plant-commences-commercial-operation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) ✅ Why PASS: independent, reputable trackers corroborate the core claims; no evidence of fabricated actors or unverifiable organisations; the primary numerics and milestones have direct press-release or institutional report traces. ⚠️ Editors should still flag the republishing (recycled content) and minor numeric-methodology differences when using the piece as a primary reference. ‼️
