Nuclear power to play bigger role in achieving nation's carbon goals

An aerial view of the Qinshan nuclear power plant in Haiyan county, Zhejiang province. [PHOTO BY HU XIAOLI/CHINA NEWS SERVICE]

Qinshan nuclear power plant, the first and largest of its kind in China, achieved 30 years of safe operation on Wednesday, with the performance of all nine of its units ranking at or near tops globally, said its operator China National Nuclear Corp.

Qinshan nuclear power plant, located in Haiyan county, East China's Zhejiang province, started construction in 1985 and was connected to the grid in 1991. It has been offering important experience for China's nuclear industry, including Hualong One technology, China's domestically developed third-generation reactor design with proprietary intellectual property.

In September, the operating license for unit 1 of the Qinshan nuclear power plant was extended until July 30, 2041, said the Ministry of Ecology and Environment.

The renewal has set an example for other plants, with far-reaching impact on establishing a comprehensive nuclear operating license extension system in China. It will also contribute to the goal of peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, said CNNC.

At present, the Qinshan nuclear power facility has nine units with a total installed capacity of 6.6 million kilowatts. Owning 735 patents, the nuclear power facility has the largest number of power units in China, and is supported by the most comprehensive reactor designs and most highly skilled management personnel.

CNNC said the Qinshan nuclear power plant will continue to leverage its various advantages to make even greater contributions to realizing China's carbon peak and neutrality goals.

So far, China has 52 nuclear units under operation with a total installed capacity of 53.48 million kW, ranking it third worldwide. There are 18 nuclear units under construction in the country, with a total installed capacity of 19.02 million kW.

Analysts said China should further tap the potential of nuclear technology and seize strategic opportunities, while applying the clean energy in broader prospects, such as in heating and pharmaceutical sectors.

Apart from more focus on key technologies, equipment and materials in the sector, China should step up smart nuclear construction by applying big data, "internet plus" technology and nuclear power plant robots, to push forward the continuous optimization and improvement of nuclear power, said Ye Qizhen, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Nuclear robots, for example, will significantly reduce the equipment and management costs of a nuclear power plant. With the installed capacity of such plants increasing, demand for nuclear power plant robots is also expected to rise, Ye said.

The academician also called for the promotion of nuclear heating in the country, amid the nationwide efforts in achieving carbon goals.

Clean heating accounts for less than 4 percent of the country's total heating, and has further room for expansion, he said.

To better help the nation achieve its carbon goals, analysts highlighted high-quality development of the nuclear power sector in China.

Chen Hua, deputy director of the China Nuclear Energy Association, said nuclear energy can provide reliable, clean and steady power, and will play a key role in China's carbon peak goal and help facilitate the country's green transition.

Nuclear power is a safe, efficient, clean and low-carbon energy source, so it plays an important role in reducing carbon emissions, promoting energy transition and serving social and economic development, Chen said.

He believes the upcoming 15 years are a strategic period for China's nuclear power development, with installed capacity for nuclear power plants expected to reach 70 million kW and that for those under construction to reach 40 million kW by 2025.

"With gradual improvement of nuclear technology and the economy, nuclear power is expected to have broader prospects and might be widely applied in various sectors," Chen added.