Nuclear Scale, Supply Chains & Energy Timing
Big buildouts, tighter supply chains, and smarter energy systems. From China’s nuclear expansion and rare earth constraints to Spain’s solar surge, cleaner battery materials, and the global spread of data centres, these stories show how scale and timing are becoming central to the energy transition.
⚛️ China Rapidly Expands Nuclear Power
China has approved 10+ nuclear reactors per year for four consecutive years, with 35 units currently under construction. It aims to reach 110 GW of nuclear capacity by 2030, potentially overtaking the U.S. Alongside domestic growth, China is exporting its Hualong One reactors and preparing to launch its first commercial small modular reactor (SMR).
🌍 Rare Earth Supply Risks Are Growing
Demand for rare earth elements - critical for EVs, wind turbines, and AI - continues to rise. Use of key materials for permanent magnets has doubled since 2015 and is expected to grow 30%+ by 2030. However, supply chains remain highly concentrated, prompting calls for new projects, partnerships, and policies to diversify production.
☀️ Spain Shows the Shift from Supply to Storage
Spain’s solar capacity now delivers the equivalent of 27 nuclear plants during the day, with pumped hydro and batteries adding further flexibility. The challenge is no longer generation, but storing and shifting energy—marking a transition from energy scarcity to energy timing.
🔋 Tesla Targets Cleaner Lithium Processing
Tesla is developing a lithium refinery designed to reduce environmental impact. The process uses acid-free refining, recycles water on-site, and aims to create a more sustainable, closed-loop battery supply chain—addressing one of the key challenges in scaling EV production.
🌐 Data Centres Remain Concentrated in Key Regions
The United States hosts around 43% of the world’s data centres, with over 4,000 facilities. Germany and the UK follow closely, while Europe’s FLAP-D corridor (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris, Dublin) continues to act as a major hub for cloud and AI infrastructure.