NEWS: China takes world's crown in nuclear power units under construction

China continues to lead the world in the number of nuclear power units under construction, according to a blue book issued by the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA).

The country has 24 nuclear power units under construction with a total installed capacity of 26.81 million kilowatts (kWs), said the blue book.

It demonstrates that China has operated its nuclear power units in a safe and stable manner over the long term, while making steady progress in their construction.

Since 2022, China has approved 10 new nuclear power units, putting three new units into commercial operation and starting the construction of six new ones.

Up till now, the country has 54 commercial nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 56.82 million kWs, ranking third in the world.

At the same time, China has also operated its nuclear power with safety performance which has been maintained at international advanced level.

The No.5 and No.6 nuclear reactor buildings of Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant in Dalian City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, August 17, 2022. /CFP

The No.5 and No.6 nuclear reactor buildings of Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant in Dalian City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, August 17, 2022. /CFP

Boosting tech self-reliance for clean energy

According to the blue book, China has been steadily improving the self-developed key nuclear power equipment, promoting manufacturing capacity of nuclear power equipment and the ability to secure the related industrial chain. The country has developed the capacity to supply complete sets of nuclear power main equipment for pressurized water reactors with a capacity of one million kWs.

In 2022, a total of 54 sets of nuclear power main equipment were produced in China, reaching a new high in the past five years.

Zhang Tingke, secretary general of CNEA, told China Media Group (CMG) that "more than 90 percent of China's major nuclear power reactors now are domestically produced, with key equipment of the No.1 demonstration fast reactor unit delivered to the site."

"The technological level of China's nuclear power engineering construction maintains international advanced ranks, with capability of building over 40 nuclear power units simultaneously."

The ability of nuclear power equipment manufacturing has strongly supported the orderly development of nuclear power in China, said the blue book.

By 2030, the country is expected to lead the world in installed capacity of nuclear power. The country's nuclear power generation is expected to account for 10 percent of total power generation in 2035, further increasing the importance of nuclear power in China's energy structure to support the low-carbon transformation of the energy structure, according to the blue book.

This hardhatNEWS article was first published on CGTN