Solar output topped nuclear globally in April 2025 as capacity gap reached 1,984 GW

Global solar capacity reached 2,383 GW by end-2025 while nuclear operating capacity fell to 368.6 GW. Wind alone surpassed nuclear monthly generation in March 2025. Four reactors entered service and seven closed, producing the first negative annual reactor balance since 2021. Output rose only 1.1 percent overall and declined 0.2 percent outside China. IEA PVPS data show 690 GW of PV additions in 2025, 180 GW above the WNISR figure, confirming faster divergence. Grid-scale batteries added 104 GW and 257 GWh in the same year, with 78 percent of cumulative BESS capacity installed since 2023. Nuclear fleet age and construction timelines remained unchanged from the prior decade. China accounted for all net nuclear growth while renewables expanded across multiple regions. Operating nuclear reactors stood at 374.7 GW in July 2026, essentially flat for 25 years. Battery cost declines now support higher variable-renewable penetration without requiring new baseload commitments. Next two years will test whether annual solar generation maintains a 25 percent or greater lead over nuclear. Continued BESS deployment above 80 GW per year would further widen the gap regardless of new reactor starts.