Nuclear news highlights of 2025: most‑read stories and key milestones

Pickering Unit 4 shutdown sparks Canadian nuclear focus – The first 2025 article, the most‑read in January, reported Ontario Power Generation’s Pickering Unit 4 was permanently retired after over 50 years, followed by contracts to refurbish units 5‑8, highlighting Canada’s active nuclear agenda [2][3].

Drone strike damages Chernobyl’s New Safe Confinement – On 14 February, a drone hit the protective shelter over Chernobyl’s destroyed Unit 4, igniting a fire that smouldered throughout the month, becoming the top February story [7][8].

Tech giants back ambitious nuclear capacity tripling – In March, Amazon, Google, Meta and Dow pledged support for a goal to at least triple global nuclear generation by 2050, reflecting growing corporate investment in nuclear energy [12].

Canada authorises first G7 SMR at Darlington – The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission approved Ontario Power Generation to build a BWRX‑300 small modular reactor at the Darlington site, marking the first SMR licence in a G7 nation [17].

UK selects Rolls‑Royce SMR as preferred technology – After a multi‑year process, the United Kingdom announced Rolls‑Royce’s SMR as the chosen design for its inaugural government‑backed small modular reactor project, a key milestone for the UK’s SMR programme [27].

DOE awards $800 million for US SMR deployments – In December, the U.S. Department of Energy granted $400 million each to Tennessee Valley Authority and Holtec, supporting early deployment of advanced light‑water SMRs, underscoring federal commitment to next‑gen reactors [64].