--- title: Solar out-strips nuclear in global electricity generation description: Solar power generated more electricity worldwide than nuclear power in 2025, according to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2026. image: https://betterworld.solutions/hubfs/Betterworld/news/Mill-Close-solar-panels-thumb.webp --- Together as business leaders, we can make a difference. 'Heroes of Net Zero' [Follow Us](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-rea-8961b617/detail/recent-activity/posts/) [![](https://betterworld.solutions/hubfs/raw_assets/public/bw-theme/images/bw-logo-01.svg)](https://betterworld.solutions/) - - [Why we are taking action](https://betterworld.solutions/statement) - [Real World Examples](https://betterworld.solutions/examples) - [Net Zero Training](https://betterworld.solutions/net-zero-sustainability-training) - [Create your own Policy](https://betterworld.solutions/form) - Menu Menu # Solar out-strips nuclear in global electricity generation ![Solar panels on the roof at AESSEAL Rotherham headquarters.](https://betterworld.solutions/hs-fs/hubfs/Betterworld/news/Mill-Close-solar-panels.webp?width=1336&name=Mill-Close-solar-panels.webp "Solar panels on the roof at AESSEAL Rotherham headquarters.") Photo taken at AESSEAL headquarters in Rotherham, UK ### Solar power generated more electricity worldwide than nuclear power in 2025, according to the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2026. This milestone has been widely predicted. Speaking to the BBC earlier this year, Jan Rosenow, a professor of energy and climate policy at the University of Oxford in the UK said, "Solar is now the engine of the power transition." While the latest figures illustrate the rapid expansion of solar generation, they don't reflect how much of that energy is actually usable. A solar farm’s panels produce electricity when sunlight is available, whereas nuclear stations can generate steadily for longer periods. Solar energy and nuclear both contribute to electricity supplies but their relative importance differs between countries. France got 68.3% of its electricity from nuclear power in 2025, according to Our World in Data, compared with around 14% for the UK, 18% for the US, and 9% for Japan. Solar output varies with the number of daylight hours, the season and the weather. Whether or not this green energy reaches consumers depends on the wider mix of generation and how much storage is available, as well as transmission and demand. In addition, in countries such as the UK wind power has a greater proportion of the mix - roughly 30% of electricity from wind and just over 6% from solar in 2025. On the global scene, China is still the world's biggest solar power. But despite the US imposing a variety of tariffs on solar, installations there continue to "skyrocket" according to the BBC. The reason is clear. Even with rising costs due to tariffs, solar is still one of the cheapest sources of new power in the US. And at a time of soaring costs for oil and gas, it is getting built regardless of political pressure. ### **Explore** If enough businesses act, together we can slow down or help to prevent Global Warming. [![](https://betterworld.solutions/hubfs/raw_assets/public/bw-theme/images/footer-panel/footer-panel-3.png)](https://betterworld.solutions/examples/c02-savings-in-mechanical-seal-usage) ### **A Summary of Evidence** We estimate that widespread adoption of more climate-friendly policies in industry globally, could have the equivalent impact of taking [630.5 million](https://betterworld.solutions/examples/c02-savings-in-mechanical-seal-usage) cars off the roads. [![](https://betterworld.solutions/hubfs/raw_assets/public/bw-theme/images/footer-panel/footer-panel-2.png)](https://betterworld.solutions/examples) ### **Real World Examples** Just a few examples where we have the know-how to do things differently and help both the environment and the bottom line. [![](https://betterworld.solutions/hubfs/raw_assets/public/bw-theme/images/footer-panel/footer-panel-1.png)](https://betterworld.solutions/form) ### **Create your Policy** The case for a great return on investment, from water and energy savings is very clear. "Adopt an [Investment Policy to Prevent Global Warming](https://betterworld.solutions/form)". ### Popular Links - [Video Diary Box Set](https://betterworld.solutions/video-diary-box-set) - [CO2 Summary Table](https://betterworld.solutions/examples/c02-savings-in-mechanical-seal-usage) - [Steam Turbines Case Study](https://betterworld.solutions/examples/c02-savings-in-mechanical-seal-usage/refineries-steam-turbines#video-case-study) - [Pulp & Paper Calculations](https://betterworld.solutions/examples/c02-savings-in-mechanical-seal-usage/pulp-and-paper-plants) - [Betterworld Newsletter](https://betterworld.solutions/newsletter) - [Net Zero Training](https://betterworld.solutions/net-zero-sustainability-training) ![Betterworld Solutions logo white](https://betterworld.solutions/hubfs/raw_assets/public/bw-theme/images/betterworld-solutions-logo-1.png) The AESSEAL plc [Investment Policy to Prevent Global Warming](https://betterworld.solutions/form) is a business-friendly investment policy intended to encourage all stakeholders in any organisation to bring sustainability projects that match the stated aim of that organisation’s policy, to the attention of the right people. Follow us on social media  https://betterworld.solutions is made in association with AESSEAL plc | Registered office address - AESSEAL plc, Global Technology Centre, Bradmarsh Business Park, Mill Close Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S60 1BZ | Registered in the UK, Company Number 2101607 | You can find the group [Privacy & Cookie Policy here](https://betterworld.solutions/privacy-policy) . - [Home](https://betterworld.solutions/) - [Why we are Taking Action](https://betterworld.solutions/statement) - [Create your own Policy](https://betterworld.solutions/form) - [A Summary of Evidence](https://betterworld.solutions/examples/c02-savings-in-mechanical-seal-usage) - [Real World Examples](https://betterworld.solutions/examples) - [Video Diary Box Set](https://betterworld.solutions/video-diary-box-set) - [Betterworld Newsletter](https://betterworld.solutions/newsletter) - [Net Zero Training](https://betterworld.solutions/net-zero-sustainability-training) - [Real World Examples](https://betterworld.solutions/examples) - [Renewable Energy](https://betterworld.solutions/examples?f=renewable) - [Waste Reduction](https://betterworld.solutions/examples?f=waste) - [Water Savings](https://betterworld.solutions/examples?f=water) - [Power Conservation](https://betterworld.solutions/examples?f=power) - [Lowering Emissions](https://betterworld.solutions/examples?f=lowering) - [Recycling](https://betterworld.solutions/examples?f=recycling) × ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Reg Rea", "url" : "https://betterworld.solutions/examples/author/reg-rea" }, "dateModified" : "2026-11-02T09:22:00.310Z", "datePublished" : "2026-11-02T09:22:00.000Z", "headline" : "Solar out-strips nuclear in global electricity generation", "image" : [ "https://betterworld.solutions/hubfs/Betterworld/news/Mill-Close-solar-panels-thumb.webp" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://betterworld.solutions/examples/solar-out-strips-nuclear-in-global-electricity-generation", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://betterworld.solutions/hubfs/aesseal_branding/AESSEAL-text-logo.jpg" }, "name" : "AESSEAL plc" } } ```