China has approved the construction of a record 11 reactors this year. The pace of investment in nuclear energy is to be maintained in the coming years. Tian Jiashu, deputy secretary general of the China Nuclear Society, told BloombergNEF at the Shanghai summit that Beijing could commit to a “realistic target” of 10 new approvals per year by 2035.
In recent years, the construction of nuclear reactors in China has accelerated significantly, therefore The Middle Kingdom is already on track to overtake the United States and France to become the world leader in nuclear energy generation by the end of the decade.
The largest construction site in the world
China currently has more reactors under construction than any other country in the world. In each of the last two years, Beijing has approved the construction of ten nuclear power plants. In the coming years, the government intends to maintain the pace of development of nuclear energy in the country, but this will probably require more private capital. In Tian’s estimation, probably the amount of non-state investment in companies may increase to approximately half from the current approximately 20 percent.
This rate of expansion would result in by 2035, China’s nuclear power capacity would almost quadruple to 200 gigawattswhich would be enough to cover 10 percent. electricity demand, Tian said. By 2060, the capacity of nuclear power plants in China could double to 400 gigawattsi.e. 16 percent total energy consumption in the country.
Location problems
So far, reactors have only been placed in coastal areas with easy access to water. However, maintaining the current pace of expansion of the nuclear fleet will be difficult, among other things, due to the decreasing number of suitable locations. Further investments would require building reactors inland, in areas that pose problems related to pollution and water management.
China focuses on reactors Hualong Onea so-called third-generation reactor with improved safety systems. Last year they also launched the world’s first fourth-generation reactor and are developing a small modular reactor called Linglong One.
