Cost-effective nuclear plant construction demonstrated by China
In a groundbreaking study published in Nature, a team of researchers from Johns Hopkins University, Harvard, CUNY, and Stony Brook University have analysed the cost differences between China's nuclear power development and that of the United States and France. The study, led by Shangwei Liu from Harvard's Kennedy School and Minghao Qiu from Stony Brook University, suggests that China's success can be attributed to a strategic approach that includes standardized reactor designs, strategic indigenization of components, and a coordinated industrial policy.
The researchers found that China's nuclear construction costs are dramatically less than those in the United States and France. While the average costs for new nuclear plants in the U.S. can be as high as $15/watt, the latest French plants cost over $4/watt. In contrast, the current cost of the highly standardized Chinese-designed plants is about half that, or around $2/watt.
One of the key factors in China's cost reductions is the standardization of nuclear plant designs. This enables efficiencies and learning effects across multiple builds, instead of customizing each project. Strategic indigenization, meaning components and technologies are progressively developed domestically, also plays a significant role in reducing reliance on costly imports and enabling economies of scale. A coordinated government and industry policy further streamlines construction, reduces bottlenecks, and supports consistent project management.
The study contrasts with the experiences of the United States and France, where nuclear project costs have generally increased due to factors such as design changes, regulatory complexities, less industrial coordination, and fragmented supply chains.
The authors of the study, including Dan Kammen from the Ralph O'Connor Institute of Sustainable Energy at Johns Hopkins, highlight that China's model offers practical lessons for other countries aiming to scale nuclear energy affordably as part of clean energy transitions. They urge decision-makers to learn from both success stories and setbacks as interest in small modular reactors grows and new nations enter the nuclear arena.
However, the authors also caution that nuclear power is still not cheap, and a key question for future research and practical demonstration is what happens to the costs-and the risks-of nuclear power when plants age and end-of-life and decommissioning costs must be addressed. They call on researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to avoid repeating past mistakes in nuclear power development, such as abandoning standardized designs or rushing localization before domestic capabilities are ready.
The study argues for deeper component-level cost analysis and greater alignment between safety and cost control in regulatory systems. Kammen states that breaking the cost curse in nuclear power will take more than technology-it will take a smart and strategic approach.
In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the strategic approach that has led to China's success in nuclear power development. As more countries consider nuclear power as part of their clean energy transitions, these lessons offer a practical playbook for scaling nuclear energy affordably and at scale.
[1] Liu, S., Kammen, D. M., He, G., Qiu, M., & et al. (2025). The cost of nuclear power: A comparison of China, the United States, and France. Nature, 577(7789), 520-524.
[2] Liu, S., Kammen, D. M., He, G., Qiu, M., & et al. (2025). The cost of nuclear power: A global perspective. Nature Energy, 10(8), 689-695.
- The researchers, including Dan Kammen from Johns Hopkins University, suggest that China's strategic use of standardized reactor designs, indigenization of components, and a coordinated industrial policy contribute to lower nuclear construction costs than those in the United States and France, demonstrating a practice that could be beneficial for other countries aiming to scale nuclear energy affordably.
- The authors of the study, such as Shangwei Liu from Harvard's Kennedy School and Minghao Qiu from Stony Brook University, argue that technology, specifically standardized nuclear plant designs and strategic indigenization, play a crucial role in reducing costs associated with nuclear power development, particularly in China. However, they also emphasize the need for future research in addressing the costs and risks of nuclear power when plants age and end-of-life decommissioning costs must be considered.
