Nuclear Setback Threatens Climate Targets as Wind and Solar Surge in Europe

Nuclear energy’s contribution to decarbonizing major economies is being hampered by aging infrastructure, high costs, and stalled projects, while solar and wind power are growing at a faster pace, according to a new report by Global Energy Monitor.

The Global Nuclear Energy Tracker reveals that nearly 40% of all nuclear capacity ever proposed globally – 566 gigawatts (GW) – has been cancelled, exceeding the combined total of currently operational (401 GW) and retired (116 GW) nuclear capacity.

Europe’s nuclear sector has been particularly affected, with 122 GW of planned capacity scrapped, a figure larger than the operating fleet of any individual country. In addition, 68 GW of reactors have been retired, and 90% of the remaining fleet is over 35 years old, underscoring concerns about infrastructure aging and reliability.

Meanwhile, renewable energy is surging. The Global Integrated Power Tracker reports that over 600 GW of wind and utility-scale solar capacity is in pre-construction or construction phases across Europe. This is 14 times more than the 9.3 GW of new nuclear capacity currently under construction, most of which is aimed at replacing retired reactors rather than expanding capacity.

Renewable projects are also expected to come online much sooner, with lead times between one to four years, compared to a decade or more for nuclear power plants. This timing mismatch presents a significant challenge to meeting climate targets, as the world has a limited window to prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5–2°C.

Joe Bernardi, Project Manager of the Global Nuclear Power Tracker, noted, “Nuclear power lags behind wind and solar on cost, construction time, and market growth. The Hinkley Point C project in the United Kingdom, still years from completion, exemplifies the slow build cycles typical of nuclear reactors. Similar delays in France and Finland reinforce this trend. Nuclear’s development remains minimal across much of Europe, while wind and solar continue to expand rapidly with lower costs and shorter lead times.”

The report highlights that unless nuclear energy development accelerates, it will struggle to play a meaningful role in reducing carbon emissions within the critical timelines required for climate stabilization.