Abstract: The goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality has put forward new requirements for China’s nuclear energy development. How to correctly understand the role and function of nuclear energy in the future new energy system is a question that the nuclear energy industry needs to answer urgently. Based on the construction needs of China’s new energy system under the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goal, this article analyzes the necessity and challenges of nuclear energy development. It is pointed out that nuclear energy, due to its advantages such as mature technology, stable heating, and green environmental protection, is a safe and stable base load power for future new type power systems based on wind and solar energy. The development of nuclear energy is one of the important measures to promote the achievement of the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goal and is an inevitable choice in history. At the same time, the article also points out a series of challenges to be faced in the development of nuclear energy, providing ideas and directions for China’s construction of the nuclear energy industry so as to achieve the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goal.