Calls for steady nuke power progress

Nuclear power should take on a bigger role in China's push for carbon neutrality by expanding its use in energy-intensive industries and supporting large-scale clean energy development.

Lu Tiezhong, chairman of China National Nuclear Power Co, called for the steady development of nuclear power in China to meet the nation's carbon neutrality goals.

"China would need around 400 1-million-kilowatt nuclear power units to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. Maintaining the current pace of constructing eight to 10 new reactors annually is essential to meeting the country's dual-carbon goals and ensuring a green, low-carbon energy transition," he said.

Lu proposed incorporating nuclear power into the green electricity and green certification system to ensure sustainable development of nuclear power and help meet the dual demands of energy security and energy transition.

"As a stable and reliable source of high-quality, green, low-carbon electricity, nuclear power has the lowest life cycle carbon emissions among all types of power generation," he said.

"Several developed countries, such as France and Finland, have already recognized nuclear power as a form of green energy through various certification mechanisms. However, China has yet to integrate nuclear energy into its green electricity certification framework and the share of nuclear power in China's electricity generation is still below the global average.

"Both installed capacity and generation proportions need further improvement. If we can clarify nuclear power's role in the green energy certificate market, it will ensure the industry's sustainable development while simultaneously addressing energy security and energy transition needs," he said.

Lu said China's domestically developed third-generation nuclear reactor, Hualong One, has made significant strides in global nuclear energy markets in recent years, entering the ranks of the world's leading nuclear technologies and becoming the most widely deployed third-generation nuclear reactor in the world.

As many as 33 Hualong One units are currently in operation or under construction both at home and abroad, according to China National Nuclear Corp.

CNNC has also built a fully localized supply chain for third-generation nuclear technology, ensuring China's independent control over its nuclear power industry while providing a strong foundation for the nation's nuclear power exports.

More than 90 percent of the equipment and components of Hualong One are domestically supplied.

Beyond electricity generation, CNNC is also actively developing a diversified clean energy system centered around nuclear power, supplemented by wind, solar, hydro and energy storage solutions. This strategy leverages nuclear energy for a variety of applications, including district heating, industrial steam supply, hydrogen production and seawater desalination.

By the end of 2024, CNNC's non-nuclear clean energy installed capacity exceeded 51 million kw, with wind and solar accounting for over 46 million kw. The company is also building nearly 30 million kw of additional clean energy capacity.

As China accelerates its nuclear energy expansion, ensuring a stable supply of uranium resources has become a key priority. Duan Xuru, chief scientist for nuclear fusion at CNNC, said the company would continue to intensify domestic exploration and development efforts in the years to come.

The company will further strengthen overseas uranium mining and international cooperation, fostering closer partnerships with key suppliers while enhancing technological innovation, he said.

By 2030, CNNC aims to achieve global leadership in key uranium mining technologies, including big data-driven mineral exploration. Additionally, Duan emphasized that China is developing advanced automation for hard rock uranium mining, positioning itself at the forefront of the global nuclear fuel industry.

With China's commitment to achieving carbon neutrality before 2060, nuclear power is expected to play an increasingly vital role in the country's energy transition. Lawmakers and industry leaders argue that sustained investment in nuclear energy infrastructure, policy support and technological innovation will be essential to realizing this vision.