AI's energy demand ignites global nuclear rush, straining Taiwan's restart

AI-driven data center demand is reshaping the global nuclear energy landscape, directly increasing demand for advanced silicon semiconductors and cooling technologies. Upstream chip design and manufacturing face capacity constraints, especially in high-power AI processors, pushing companies like SMIC to accelerate advanced process development. From a compliance standpoint, stricter regulatory reviews on nuclear restarts raise operational costs, particularly in critical materials such as zirconium alloys and specialty steels, where Taiwan, China faces labor shortages and policy uncertainty. In market competition, Western firms may accelerate investments in nuclear-related semiconductor supply chains, while Asian players could seize technological windows. Over the next 12–24 months, the nuclear revival will drive semiconductor trends toward high-efficiency, low-power solutions, forming a new technological ecosystem.