According to reports from its state media, China has officially launched the commercial operations of a nuclear reactor, celebrated as the world’s first of its kind.
As nations increasingly recognise the crucial role of nuclear power in the global energy transition towards additional net-zero electricity, fierce competition has emerged in the race to develop the latest generation of civil nuclear technology. In this landscape, China has taken a pioneering position this week.
The Shidaowan nuclear power plant, home to the world’s leading fourth-generation reactor, marked a historic moment by officially commencing commercial operations on December 6. The confirmation came from the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), a key contributor to the groundbreaking project.
What makes it different from its predecessors?
The Shidaowan plant, situated in the northern Shandong province, represents the fourth generation of nuclear reactors. Distinguished from its predecessors, this ingenious facility is engineered to enhance fuel efficiency, economic viability, safety measures, and environmental sustainability.
According to the Xinhua news agency, the 200-megawatt high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor (HTGCR) plant, a collaborative effort between state-run utility Huaneng, Tsinghua University, and China National Nuclear Corporation, embraces a modular design. In nuclear technology, modular plants, defined as those with a capacity of less than 300MW, can be assembled off-site.
Many claim that these modular reactors can function efficiently in remote areas and power industries that have traditionally posed challenges in emissions reduction. However, sceptics raise concerns about the perceived high costs associated with this approach.
This milestone signifies China’s achievement in establishing the world’s inaugural commercially operational modular nuclear power plant utilising fourth-generation nuclear technology, thereby marking a pivotal shift from experimental phases to the commercial market.
Generation IV reactors are recognised for their enhanced safety features and increased efficiency. Tsinghua University, a key collaborator in the reactor’s development, highlighted that tests confirmed the capability of commercial-scale reactors to naturally cool down without relying on emergency core cooling systems—the world’s first instance of such inherently safe reactor technology.
Zhang Zuoyi, the dean of the Tsinghua University Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology and chief designer of the Shidaowan reactor project, emphasised the multifaceted capabilities of these reactors, including the production of heat, electricity, and hydrogen. He expressed optimism that these advancements would contribute to China and the world achieving carbon neutrality.
In November, NuScale Power, initially poised to be the first U.S. company licensed to construct a small modular reactor, decided to terminate a planned 462MW project in Utah due to insufficient subscription.
China’s Stand on Nuclear Energy
With aspirations to generate 10% of its electricity from nuclear sources by 2035 and 18% by 2060, China faced challenges in meeting its 2020 goal of installing 58 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by September.
Despite its ambitious nuclear energy targets, China opted not to join the pledge made by 20 countries at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, where signatories committed to tripling nuclear power capacity by 2050.
While many Western countries have acknowledged the significance of nuclear power in reaching net-zero emissions, the current COP28 climate summit in Dubai witnessed a noteworthy commitment. The United States, along with 21 nations like Britain, France, Canada, Sweden, South Korea, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), pledged to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
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