PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1888362
PUBLISHER: The Business Research Company | PRODUCT CODE: 1888362
Nuclear reactor construction refers to the process of planning, designing, and building nuclear power facilities that house reactors for controlled nuclear fission. It includes activities such as site preparation, reactor installation, and implementation of safety and cooling systems. Its key purpose is to create infrastructure for generating large-scale, low-carbon electricity and supporting scientific or industrial applications.
The key reactor types in nuclear reactor construction include pressurized water reactors (PWR), boiling water reactors (BWR), pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWR), gas-cooled reactors (GCR), fast neutron reactors (FNR), and small modular reactors (SMR). Pressurized water reactors (PWRs) use high-pressure water as both coolant and moderator to transfer heat from the reactor core to a secondary system, producing steam to generate electricity. They employ advanced technologies such as Generation III reactors, Generation IV reactors, and other advanced reactor technologies, with construction stages including turnkey contracts, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC), design-build contracts, and construction management. Key applications include baseload electricity generation, desalination and process heat, marine propulsion, load balancing and peak demand, and district heating and cogeneration, serving end-users such as utilities, government bodies, research organizations, and more.
Note that the outlook for this market is being affected by rapid changes in trade relations and tariffs globally. The report will be updated prior to delivery to reflect the latest status, including revised forecasts and quantified impact analysis. The report's Recommendations and Conclusions sections will be updated to give strategies for entities dealing with the fast-moving international environment.
The rapid escalation of U.S. tariffs and the resulting trade tensions in spring 2025 are significantly impacting the construction sector, particularly in materials procurement and project costs. Higher duties on imported steel, aluminum, lumber, and machinery have driven up expenses for builders, contractors, and infrastructure developers, leading to increased project bids and delayed timelines. Construction equipment manufacturers face similar challenges, with tariffs on essential components and raw materials inflating production costs and squeezing margins. Additionally, retaliatory tariffs in international markets have curtailed exports of U.S.-made construction equipment and materials, further affecting profitability. The sector must now prioritize local sourcing, modular construction techniques, and supply chain diversification to control costs and ensure project viability amid ongoing trade uncertainties.
The nuclear reactor construction market research report is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provides nuclear reactor construction market statistics, including nuclear reactor construction industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a nuclear reactor construction market share, detailed nuclear reactor construction market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the nuclear reactor construction industry. This nuclear reactor construction market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.
The nuclear reactor construction market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $51.41 billion in 2024 to $54.38 billion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.8%. The growth during the historic period can be attributed to rising energy demand, increasing government support for nuclear projects, growing investments in large-scale power generation, heightened focus on energy security, and rising urbanization and population growth.
The nuclear reactor construction market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $67.18 billion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.4%. The growth during the forecast period can be attributed to growing adoption of small modular reactors, increasing shift toward low-carbon energy sources, rising replacement of aging reactors, expanding focus on sustainable baseload power, and growing collaboration in international nuclear programs. Key trends in the forecast period include technological advancements in reactor design, continuous innovation in modular construction, improvements in safety and waste management technologies, automation in construction processes, and development of next-generation nuclear technologies.
The rising need for clean energy is expected to drive the growth of the nuclear reactor construction market in the coming years. Clean energy refers to power generated from renewable or low-emission sources that minimize environmental impact and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Demand for clean energy is increasing due to growing awareness of environmental sustainability, as it helps lower greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. Nuclear reactors support clean energy efforts by providing a reliable, large-scale, and low-carbon power source, enabling stable and sustainable electricity generation. For example, in June 2024, the International Energy Agency, a France-based intergovernmental organization, reported that worldwide investment in clean energy reached $80 billion in 2024, up from $67 billion in 2023. Therefore, the rising need for clean energy is fueling the growth of the nuclear reactor construction market.
Key companies in the nuclear reactor construction market are focusing on advancements in nuclear technology, such as bilateral nuclear reactor development agreements, to enhance advanced nuclear energy capabilities and promote deployment of next-generation reactor technologies. A bilateral nuclear reactor development agreement is a formal, legally binding arrangement between two sovereign nations aimed at jointly developing, constructing, or deploying nuclear reactor technologies. For instance, in October 2025, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico announced a government-approved agreement with the United States to develop a new nuclear reactor at the Jaslovske Bohunice site in western Slovakia. The planned reactor, expected to generate over 1,000 megawatts, will be fully state-owned and represents a multi-billion-euro investment to expand Slovakia's nuclear energy capacity. The project involves collaboration with U.S. nuclear technology providers and aligns with regional trends of nuclear expansion in Central and Eastern Europe, supporting energy security, clean electricity generation, and long-term infrastructure modernization.
In October 2024, Google LLC, a US-based technology and internet services company, partnered with Kairos Power LLC for an undisclosed amount. This partnership aims to advance clean energy innovation by supporting the development and deployment of advanced nuclear reactor technology to help achieve carbon-free energy goals. Kairos Power LLC is a US-based company specializing in advanced nuclear reactor design and construction.
Major players in the nuclear reactor construction market are Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Larson & Turbo Limited, Rolls-Royce Holdings plc, Shanghai Electric Group Company Limited, Bechtel Corporation, Fluor Corporation, Jacobs Engineering Group Inc., Doosan Enerbility Co. Ltd., China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Dongfang Electric Corporation, Bilfinger SE, Framatome SAS, BWX Technologies Inc., Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy Ltd., Holtec International, Terra Power LLC, KEPCO Engineering & Construction, Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, Kairos Power LLC, and SKODA JS a.s.
North America was the largest region in the nuclear reactor construction market in 2024. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in nuclear reactor construction report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa.
The countries covered in the nuclear reactor construction market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.
The nuclear reactor construction market includes revenues earned by entities through project management, site assessment, regulatory compliance consulting, safety system integration, equipment testing, waste handling system setup, and decommissioning support services. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.
The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).
The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.
Nuclear Reactor Construction Global Market Report 2025 from The Business Research Company provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the market.
This report focuses on nuclear reactor construction market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the trends which will be shaping the market over the next ten years and beyond.
Where is the largest and fastest growing market for nuclear reactor construction ? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward, including technological disruption, regulatory shifts, and changing consumer preferences? The nuclear reactor construction market global report from the Business Research Company answers all these questions and many more.
The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography.
The forecasts are made after considering the major factors currently impacting the market. These include the technological advancements such as AI and automation, Russia-Ukraine war, trade tariffs (government-imposed import/export duties), elevated inflation and interest rates.