Nuclear power in China: Key to a sustainable future
Peter Gill
At the beginning of this century, China had only 6 nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 5 gigawatts. Since then, the country has explosively expanded its nuclear power capacity to 56 operational nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 54 gigawatts. The 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010) laid the groundwork for this rapid growth. In it, the construction of nuclear power plants was actively promoted.
China’s nuclear energy strategy
In 2012, China was the world’s largest source of carbon emissions, posing a huge environmental and public health challenge. In March 2014, Premier Hu Jintao, an engineering graduate of Tsinghua University, declared a “war on pollution,” referring to highcarbon emissions. He announced to speed up the closure of coal-fired power plants and predicted that China would get about 20 percent of its energy from non-fossil fuels by 2030. These ambitious goals highlight the crucial role of nuclear power in China’s quest for a cleaner energy supply. Unlike Germany, which closed its last three nuclear power plants in April 2023, China continues to invest in and expand its nuclear power capacity. Germany’s Kalkar nuclear power plant, originally an ambitious project, is now a theme park; an ironic consequence of policy decisions that halted construction before the reactor began operation. The table below shows China at 18% renewable energy, hydropower and nuclear power by the end of 2023, close to the goal it set for itself in 2014. Because nuclear power provides continuous year-round power, it is less challenging for China to produce energy from non-fossil sources than it is for Germany. There, almost all non-fossil energy comes from solar and wind power, which are not continuously available.
Nuclear energy players and technology
The three “nuclear giants” in China are the China National Nuclear Corporation(CNNC) 中核集团, China General Nuclear Power Corporation(CGN) 中广核 and State Power Investment Corporation(SPIC) 国家电投.
CNNC controls most activities in the nuclear sector, including research and development, engineering design, uranium exploration and mining, enrichment, fuel production and waste disposal.
CGN is responsible for the development, construction and operation of nuclear power plants particularly in Guangdong province.
SPIC and focuses on a wide range of power generation such as solar, wind, coal, gas, biomass and nuclear and is also active with aluminum smelters.
Initially, China began importing nuclear technology from France, Canada and Russia, with a strong focus on French technology. Now the latest technology is coming from the U.S. ( Westinghouse) and France, with Westinghouse’s AP1000 providing an important basis for the development of China’s CAP1400 and CAP1000 reactors.
The Hualong One 华龙一号, a third-generation nuclear reactor developed by CNNC and CGN, began commercial operation in Fuqing, Fujian, in January 2021.
According to the American think tank Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, China is ahead of the United States in the development and deployment of cost-efficient small modular reactors (SMRs), as well as in the deployment of so-called fourth-generation nuclear reactors, which are safer and more economical than previous generations. China’s strengths in nuclear innovation lie mainly in organizational, systemic and incremental innovations. Although many fourth-generation nuclear technologies have been known for years, China is able to successfully implement them through its state-supportive approach.
China is also making great progress with thorium reactors and floating nuclear power plants. CNNC, for example, is developing a thorium reactor that is more efficient and safer than traditional uranium reactors, with less radioactive waste. Floating nuclear power plants, such as CNNC’s, can provide energy to remote areas and reduce risks due to their mobile design. China also plays an important role in nuclear fusion research with the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokama (EAST) project , which aims to develop a stable nuclear fusion reaction. Although this includes collaboration with foreign partners, this project is less international than ITER in France. These innovations demonstrate China’s ambition to play a leading role worldwide in the future of nuclear energy.
Uranium
Uranium is essential for nuclear energy and Kazakhstan plays a crucial role as the largest producer and holder of the large uranium reserves. This importance was underscored by Xi Jinping’s first foreign trip after the COVID pandemic to Kazakhstan, highlighting the strategic link between the two countries. France supplies its 56 nuclear reactors with uranium largely from Niger, Namibia and Kazakhstan. The urgency of the search for alternative fuels is felt everywhere. China is therefore focusing on thorium, a promising fuel that is more available than uranium and has advantages such as lower waste production and increased safety. The focus on thorium reactors is a strategic move by China to reduce long-term dependence on uranium while increasing the sustainability of its nuclear program.
Chinese nuclear power plants outside China
The Hualong One is central to China’s nuclear energy export strategy. In 2016, the CNNC proposed capturing a 20% to 30% market share in 40 countries along the Belt and Road route by 2030. This seems like a challenging goal, though the first nuclear power plant is now operational in Pakistan; the Hualong One, China’s first nuclear reactor built abroad. In 2023, the Biden administration further restricted the export of nuclear power plant materials to China to prevent their use for military purposes. This move underscores growing tensions between Washington and Beijing, which also manifest themselves in conflicts over espionage, human rights and trade restrictions. In addition to the challenge of export restrictions, China must consider strong competition from the U.S. and South Korea, which benefit from their extensive experience in the nuclear sector. Given current geopolitics, we will not see Chinese nuclear power plants in Western Europe; time will tell how quickly China manages to put up more nuclear plants outside of China.
China’s public perception about nuclear power
Since 2015, coverage of nuclear power on social media in China has grown, mainly through news stories and online videos. Some influential bloggers and media outlets play a key role in communicating about nuclear power, with much greater attention in eastern coastal areas than inland and western areas. Public perception focuses mainly on technological advances and nuclear accidents, with generally positive attitudes toward Chinese nuclear power projects and technologies. As in India, nuclear power is more accepted in China than in most Western countries.
China’s future for nuclear power
China has rapidly expanded its nuclear power capacity in recent years, with 56 operational nuclear power plants totaling 54 gigawatts and 31 new nuclear power plants under construction. This growth supports China’s goal of getting 20 percent of its energy from non-fossil sources by 2030. Innovations such as the Hualong One reactor and advances in thorium and floating nuclear power plants highlight China’s ambition to play a leading role in the global nuclear sector.
Should China succeed in competing with the U.S., South Korea and Russia, the emerging markets of the BRICS countries (with Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Turkey and Thailand seeking to join) and countries affiliated with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) represent opportunities for China’s nuclear exports. In any case, China will strengthen its position by continuing to invest in technology,and diplomatic efforts and work on the energy transition it is now accelerating.
From: West meets East: Understanding Chinese speaking societies
Peter Gill is author of West meets East: ‘Understanding Chinese speaking societies’
Peter studied mechanical engineering at TU Delft, business economics at Hogeschool Inholland and has worked in Shanghai and Taipei. In his career he worked in semiconductors, oil industry, mining, offshore wind and most recently at TU Delft.
West meets East is a must-read for curious minds, who want to learn more about mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore. You can see the similarities and differences between mainland China and Germany, Taiwan and the Netherlands, and Singapore and Denmark. Through infographics, the book provides valuable insights into Chinese-speaking societies and their unique characteristics.
The book covers the following areas:
- People and culture
- Leadership and economics
- Technological Progress and Innovation
- Energy, future energy and food issues
The book can be ordered at https://peters-perspective.com/west-meets-east/
