How China Is Overtaking the US in Nuclear Power - And Why It Matters for the Tech Race

While headlines often discuss who invents the best chip, trains the most complex AI model, or makes the smartest robots, none of that matters unless you can power them. >> Of course, there are many other determinants of technology races. If the only determinant were the availability [music] and cost of energy, uh, China will be winning that race. >> China has more robots working in factories than the rest of the world combined. Manufacturing in China is predicted to grow 10% annually till 2028 and with it its electricity needs. In the next 5 years, China's electricity demand is set to grow annually by 4 to 5%. Across the country, new lowcarbon sources are meeting much of China's growing electricity demand. And so to supplement its renewable energy push, China has invested in nuclear. >> China's got a fairly aggressive [music] nuclear plans in the global context. The scale they're looking at something like 10 gawatt a year roughly every year for the foreseeable future. Now that's still relatively small in the context of China's massive [music] electricity industry. Uh but it's larger than the ambitions of any other country in the world right now. Nuclear reactors generate electricity through a process called nuclear fision. [music] Atoms of radioactive fizzle elements like uranium are split to release heat which boils water into steam that drives turbines connected to [music] generators. China currently has 28 nuclear reactors under construction, nearly half of the global total. The US is also investing in nuclear technology, committing $80 billion US to new nuclear plants. However, [music] progress is slow compared to China. >> In the past 15 years, we only built [music] two such nuclear reactors. So this difference between the number of data centers that are being built [music] and the number of nuclear reactors that were built in the United States should give you an idea what is an energy [music] gap we are facing. >> By 2030, China is expected to overtake the US as the world's largest producer of nuclear energy. Even more striking, China is almost self-sufficient in this field. There was a very strong push throughout the entire industry backed by the government implemented by the major S so ses and supported by the entire supply chain to indigenize all the different aspects all the different equipment all the different technology that go into a nuclear power plant. If we can't make it domestically yet we need [music] to put a specific research project associated with learning how to do it and developing it so we can push it forward domestically. Nuclear power has an important role in the renewable energy chain. Nuclear reactors do not emit carbon and their power output can be ramped up or down as needed. [music] Thus, it serves as a reliable supplement for times when renewable power is intermittent. For example, when [music] there's no sun or wind. >> Nuclear. Having even just a bit of nuclear in the mix helps [music] stabilize everything else. So even if it's only 15% of the generation, that 15% eventually allowed the whole rest of the grid to [music] be more stable while still reaching that zerocarbon or lowcarbon energy mix that you're hoping for. From January to October 2025, [music] China fouled over 670 nuclear related patents compared to about 320 for the US, which illustrates one more area which gives China the advantage in the electrification race. Heavy investment in research, all at a time when the Trump administration is cutting R&D funding. for example, proposing a 57% cut to the [music] National Science Foundation's budget, which will target clean energy and climate change research. >> All of China's top uh science and technology uh engineering schools, STEM schools, uh have massive programs focused on the energy transition, focused on the engineering that is necessary to make this energy transition work. The research and development space inside China is driven by both the universities and the research institutes of all of these major well-funded usually stateowned enterprises. >> But even with the massive push for nuclear and renewables, China is still a net energy importer. Here is its weakness visav the US. I think from a perspective of energy security, China is still importing a lot of oil. China is also trying to import gas. China is ramping up nuclear really fast, but compared to the amount of coal installed capacity, nuclear capacity [music] is really just a fraction of it. Same as renewable and so China will continue to have this energy security issues the country needs to address. >> In the end, what does all this mean for the global tech war? Imagine, you know, a fleet of cars is traveling at high speed on the highway and these cars are self-drive vehicles. If you have a power failure, [music] one of the data centers that is monitoring those vehicles, you're going to have a catastrophic accident on the highway. So, this is where you uh tolerance to power failure will go down to zero, almost zero. >> Of course, in the real world, there are many other determinants of technology races. We talk about uh human capital [music] and funding and in the case of AI, the availability of of chips. But if the only determinant [music] were the availability and cost of energy, uh, China will be winning that race. >> There is a lot of talk about America not being able to [music] produce enough electricity to maintain its economic competitiveness in the world of AI. I think that [music] such risk exists on very short time scale. But in the long term, I fundamentally believe that America is capable of addressing [music] those issues. We have so much creativity and technical talent in the country that can be put to solving these issues which coupled with our enormously [music] vibrant private sector can deliver on what we need.

As the global AI and US-China tech race intensifies, energy security is a decisive factor. To stay ahead, China is rapidly expanding its nuclear energy capacity, with 28 reactors under construction. By 2030, it is expected to overtake the US as the world’s largest producer of nuclear energy. The US is also investing billions in new nuclear technology, but progress has been slower in recent years. Meanwhile, strong state backing in China, a rise in the number of patents and a push for self-sufficiency are driving its ambitions — even as challenges around energy imports remain. In a world shaped by AI, robotics and advanced manufacturing, reliable large-scale electricity could help determine the frontrunner in the global technology race. Watch the full episode: China Now Generates 2X More Electricity Than USA: How Will This Alter The Tech Race? | Insight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxGslNcHvRA 00:00 Introduction 01:42 China’s nuclear ambitions 02:02 How far has the US fallen behind? 04:05 Trump cuts R&D funding 04:53 China’s weakness 05:56 Who will win the global tech race? ========= ABOUT THE SHOW: Insight investigates and analyses topical issues that impact Asia and the rest of the world. ================== #CNAInsider #CNAInsight #USChina #Electricity #TechRace #AI #CleanEnergy #Nuclear Have feedback or an idea for a story? Email cnainsider@mediacorp.com.sg Also watch: China Dominated EVs And Solar: Can Its Cheap Robots Lead The Next Tech Race? | Insight https://youtu.be/Fc-nKxWkYxs How Small Nuclear Reactors Are Transforming Power Grids In China & Finland | The Nuclear Option https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7B6dMFyrW0 Will Developing Countries Be Left Behind In The AI Race? Cambodia's Digital Strategy | Insight https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcV3owKrLUo For more, SUBSCRIBE to CNA INSIDER! https://cna.asia/insideryoutubesub Follow CNA INSIDER on: Telegram: https://t.me/CNAInsiderSG Instagram: / cnainsider Facebook: / cnainsider Website: https://cna.asia/cnainsider