china nuclear power

China nuclear power

China has 13 nuclear reactors in operation, more than 25 under construction and more about to start  construction soon. Additional reactors planned including some of world’s most advanced to give more than ten fold increasing in nuclear capacity at least 8o Gwe  by 2020, 200 Gwe by 2030 and 400 Gwe  by 2050.

Most of mainland’s  china electricity is produced from fossil fuels ( 80 percent from coal ) 2 % from oil 1 % from gas in 2006) and hydro power 15 %. Two large Hydro projects are recent additions. Three Gorges of 18.2 Gwe  and yellow River of 15.8 Gwe . Rapid growth in demand has given rise to power shortages , and reliance on fossil fuel has led to much air pollution. The economic loss due to pollution is put up by world bank at almost 6% of G.D.P.

Chinas domestic electricity production in 2009 was 3643 billion Kwh , 6 % higher than the 3450 billion Kwh  in 2008, which was 5.8 %  more than 2007 ( 3260 billion Kwh )

Installed generating capacity had grown by end of 2010 to 962 Gwe, up 10 % on previous years 874 Gwe which was 10.2 % above 2008 figure of 793 Gwe . At the end of 2010( fossil fuelled  capacity mostly coal reached 707 Gwe , and hydro capacity was 213 Gwe  and wind capacity reached 31GWe . Mean while investment in electricity dropped 8.5 % CNY 705 billion ( 107 billion dollars ) for the year. Capacity growth is expected to slow reaching about 1600 Gwe in 2020. 

These capacity increase figures are all  the more remarkable considering the forced retired of small inefficient coal fired plants ; 26 Gwe of there was closed in 2009 and 11 Gwe in 2010, making 71 Gwe  closed since 2006, cutting annual coal consumption by about 82 million tonnes and annual carbon dioxide emissions by some by some 165 million tons. China was well advanced in developing and deploying super critical and ultra super critical coal plants, as well as moving quickly to design and deploy technology for integrated (coal gasification combined cycle(IGCC) plants.

Due to increasing concern about quality of air and global warming nuclear power has been looked an alternative to coal power in china . China has two major nuclear power companies China national power corporation operating north east China and China Guangdong nuclear power group operating mainly in south east China. The people’s Republic of China is also involved in development of nuclear fission reactors though its participation in ITER project, having construction an experimental nuclear fission reactors as EAST located in Hefei, well as research and development into thorium fuel cycle as potential alternative means of nuclear fission.

Nuclear  power in china has important role, especially in coastal areas remote from coal fields and where the economy is developing rapidly. Generally nuclear plants can be built close to cent re demand, whereas suitable wind and hydro sites are remote from demand. Move to build nuclear power plants commenced in 1970 and about 2005 the industry moved to rapid development stage. Technology has been drawn from France, Canada and Russia  with local development based largely on the French element. The latest technology acquisition from U.S. ( VIA Westinghouse owned by Japan’s  Toshiba) and France. The Westinghouse AP 1000 is main basis of technology development in immediate future. 

During nuclear emergencies at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant, China announced on 16th March 2011 that all nuclear power plant approvals were being frozen and that full safety check of existing reactors would be made. Although Zhang Li-jun vice minister  of environmental protection has indicated that china’s overall nuclear energy strategy would continue. Some commentators have suggested that additional safety related costs and public opinion could cause a rethink in favor of an expandable renewable energy program. In April  2011 CHINA daily reported that approvals for construction of nuclear power plants in marine areas have been suspended. 

Most nuclear power plants in china are located on the coast generally use sea water  for  cooling direct  once through cycle. New York Times has reported  that china is placing many of nuclear power plants near large cities and there is concern that  ten of millions of people could be exposed to radiation in the event of accident. China neighboring Guadong and Lingao nuclear power plants have around  28 million people within a 75 kilometer radius that covers Hong Kong.

Following  the Fukushima accident in March 2011 the state council announced on March 16 that it would suspend approvals for new nuclear power stations and conduct comprehensive safety checks of all nuclear projects including those under construction. About  34 reactors were already approved by central government  which 26 were being built. The Shidaowan HTR  though ready for first concrete was also differed.

Prior to 2008, the government planned to increase nuclear generating capacity to 40 GWe  by 2020( out of which total 1000 Gwe planned) with further 18GWe nuclear being under construction. However governments targets for nuclear power have been increasing. As of June 2010 official nuclear installed capacity projections were 70-80 Gwe by 2020, 200 Gwe by 2030 and  400-500 Gwe by 2050. China Daily in January 2011 quoted as senior official projecting 86 Gwe target by 2020.

In September 2010 China daily reported that China national power corporation (CNNC) alone plan to invest CNY 800 BILLION ( 120 Billion dollars) into nuclear energy projects by 2020. Total investment in nuclear power projects, in which CNNC will hold controlling stakes will reach CNY 500 BILLION ( 75 billion dollars by 2015, resulting in 40 Gwe on line according to CNNC. In order to fund company expansion project CNNC plans to list its subsidiary CNNC Nuclear Power Company limited in 2011 to attract strategy investors.

In January 2011 a report from state council research office ( SCRO) which makes independent policy recommendation to state council on strategic matters was published. While approving the enormous  progress made on many fronts, it cautioned concerning provincial  and corporate enthusiasm for nuclear power projects and said that the 2020 target to be restricted to 70 Gwe of new plants actually operating so as to avoid placing undue demand on quality issues in the supply chain. Another 30GWe could be under construction. It is emphasized that the priority need to be resolutely on generation 111 technology notably AP 1000 and derivatives. However ambitious status target to deploy AP 1000s with reduced foreign input had proved difficult and as a result more of generation 11 , CPR-1000 units are under construction or in order. Only china is building generation=11 units to day in such large numbers with 57 ( 53.14 Gwe ) on books.

SCRO said that reactors built today should operate for 50 to 60 years meaning on large fleet of Gen-11 UNITS still be in operation in the 2070s , when even Gen-111 reactors would have given way to Gen-1v  and perhaps even to commercial nuclear fission. The country should not be too large to avoid any perception of being below international standards of safety future, when most of worlds  Gen-11 reactors are retired. The SCRO noted the  100 fold increase  in probabilistic safety brought Gen-111 and that future generations would continue trend.

Energy hungry developing countries such as China and India , Mexico and Iran are moving forward on plans to build more nuclear power plants, even authorities around the world intensify safe inspection of existing plants after Japan’s  March 11 disaster.

Initial fears that erupted in the wake of crises, threatening to derail the nuclear renaissance of last several years have largely subsided. Many of the 30 plus countries with nuclear energy program continue to promote them as way to combat pollution and global warming-despite radiation risks and questions on what to do with nuclear waste.

India which has also stepped up safely measures is championing nuclear power as a clean and environmentally friendly alternative to polluting coal-fired power plants. It is aim to increase the share of nuclear energy from 3 per cent to 13 percent by 2030.