Near decade record set for nuclear plant approvals

Five nuclear power projects encompassing 11 units were approved for construction during a State Council executive meeting on Monday.

It marks the highest number of approved nuclear units in a single year since 2015, a development rate that experts predict will significantly boost related manufacturing sectors.

A nuclear power unit is a generation unit composed of a reactor, its supporting turbine generator set, and systems and facilities required to maintain full and safe operations.

The five projects are Jiangsu Xuwei nuclear power heating plant operated by China National Nuclear Power Co Ltd encompassing three units; Shandong Zhaoyuan, Guangdong Lufeng and Zhejiang San'ao nuclear power projects managed by China General Nuclear Power Group with six units; and Guangxi Bailong first phase nuclear power project with two units totaling 40 billion yuan ($5.6 billion) in investment operated by State Power Investment Corp Ltd.

Among these, the Jiangsu Xuwei project is the world's first to combine high-temperature gas-cooled reactors with pressurized water reactors. It features a "nuclear reactor — steam turbine generator set — heating system "collaborative model, primarily for industrial heating which is also used to generate electricity.

The executive meeting at the State Council also emphasized the need to continuously enhance nuclear safety technology and risk management, and strengthen safety oversight across all areas to support the industry's long-term vitality.

China's nuclear power construction is accelerating. From 2019 to 2023, the number of approved nuclear units was six, four, five, 10 and 10, respectively, indicating a positive trend in safe and orderly development. Experts said this pace keeps China ahead in terms of approved and under-construction nuclear power capacity. The growth in nuclear power will further drive demand for equipment such as pressure vessels, nuclear valves and special motors, significantly boosting relevant manufacturing sectors.

The China Nuclear Energy Association said nuclear power generation reached 433.4 billion kilowatt-hours last year, making China the second-largest generator, which accounted for 4.86 percent of the country's total power generation.

This resulted in an equivalent reduction of about 340 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually.

As of end-2023, China had 26 nuclear power units under construction, totaling 30.3 million kilowatts, tops worldwide. Operational units reached 55 in number and 57 million kW in installed capacity.

Zhang Tingke, vice-president of the association, predicts that by 2035, nuclear power's share in China's energy mix will reach around 10 percent.

Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University, said that nuclear power, with its high energy density, stability and low carbon emissions, is highly advantageous for China's green goals.

He said: "In recent years, China's independent innovation in the nuclear power industry has significantly improved with a leap from second-generation to domestically developed third-generation nuclear power technology. Meanwhile, progress in advanced nuclear projects such as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors has been substantial. Additionally, China's nuclear power industry chain is increasingly complete, with a well-established supply chain for raw materials, equipment, auxiliary equipment and instrumentation, meeting the sector's sustainable development needs."