In Depth: Fusion Sector Heats Up as China Pursues Next-Gen Nuclear Power

China is experiencing a different kind of nuclear race as everyone from government labs to private sector giants and startups seek to develop next-generation fusion energy.

It comes as the nation’s broader nuclear sector grows, with an installed capacity of 57 gigawatts (GW) by the end of 2023, according to the China Nuclear Energy Association. The country’s 55 operating nuclear reactors — which use conventional fission technology — contributed 4.86% of total power generation last year, the association’s data show, and that figure is expected to rise to 10% by 2035.