Nuclear Power in China

Nuclear Power in China

• Mainland China has 12 nuclear power reactors in operation, 24 under construction, and more about to start construction soon. 
• Additional reactors are planned, including some of the world's most advanced, to give more than a tenfold increase in nuclear capacity to 80 GWe by 2020, 200 GWe by 2030, and 400 GWe by 2050. 
• China is rapidly becoming self-sufficient in reactor design and construction, as well as other aspects of the fuel cycle. 

Most of mainland China's electricity is produced from fossil fuels (80% from coal, 2% from oil, 1% from gas in 2006) and hydropower (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 the reliance on fossil fuels has led to much air pollution. The economic loss due to pollution is put by the World Bank at almost 6% of GDP.¹ In 2009 power shortages were most acute in central provinces, particularly Hubei, and in December the Central China Grid Co. posted a peak load of 94.6 GW.
Domestic electricity production in 2009 was 3643 billion kWh, 6.0% higher than the 3,450 billion kWh in 2008, which was 5.8% more than in 2007 (3,260 billion kWh) and it is expected to rise to 3,810 billion kWh in 2010. Installed capacity had grown by the end of 2009 to 874 GWe, up 10.2% on the previous year's 793 GWe, which was 11% above the previous year's 713 GWe.² Capacity growth is expected to slow, reaching about 1600 GWe in 2020. At the end of 2007, there was reported to be 145 GWe of hydro capacity, 554 GWe fossil fuel, 9 GWe nuclear and 4 GWe wind, total 713 GWe. In 2008, the country added 20.1 GWe of hydro capacity, 65.8 GWe coal-fired capacity, and 4.7 GWe wind.
These capacity increase figures are all the more remarkable considering the forced retirement of small inefficient coal-fired plants: 26 GWe of these was closed in 2009, making 60 GWe closed since 2006, cutting annual coal consumption by 69 million tonnes and annual carbon dioxide emissions by 139 Mt.
The grid system run by the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC) is sophisticated and rapidly growing, utilising ultra high voltage (1000 kV AC and 800 kV DC) transmission. By 2020, the capacity of the UHV network is expected to be some 300 GW, which will function as the backbone of the whole system, having 400 GWe of clean energy sources connected, of which hydropower will account for 78 GW, and wind power from the north a further significant portion (wind capacity by 2020 is planned to be 100 GWe). Also by 2020, operational transmission losses are expected to be 5.7%, down from 6.6% in 2010. At the end of 2009, China had budgeted to spend $600 billion upgrading its grid.
Among the main listed generators, Huaneng Power produced 203.5 billion kWh from its domestic plants in 2009, 10.2% up on 2008. Datang Power produced 141.9 billion kWh, 12% up on 2008. Huadian Power produced 107.5 billion kWh, 6.75% above 2008. CPI Development produced 43.9 billion kWh, 2.0% above 2008 level.
While coal is the main energy source, most reserves are in the north or northwest and present an enormous logistic problem – nearly half the country's rail capacity is used in transporting coal. Because of the heavy reliance on old coal-fired plant, electricity generation accounts for much of the country's air pollution, which is a strong reason to increase nuclear share. China recently overtook the USA as the world's largest contributor to carbon dioxide emissions. The US Energy Information Administration predicts that China's share in global coal-related emissions will grow by 2.7% per year, from 4.9 billion tonnes in 2006 to 9.3 billion tonnes in 2030, some 52% of the projected world total. Total carbon dioxide emissions in China are projected to grow by 2.8% per year from 6.2 billion tonnes in 2006 to 11.7 billion tonnes in 2030 (or 28% of world total). In comparison, total US carbon dioxide emissions are projected to grow by 0.3% per year, from 5.9 billion tonnes in 2006 to 7.7 billion tonnes in 2030.³
Nuclear power has an important role, especially in the coastal areas remote from the coalfields and where the economy is developing rapidly. Generally, nuclear plants can be built close to centres of demand, whereas suitable wind and hydro sites are remote from demand. Moves to build nuclear power commenced in 1970 and the industry has now moved to a rapid development phase. Technology has been drawn from France, Canada and Russia, with local development based largely on the French element. The latest technology acquisition has been from the USA (via Westinghouse, owned by Japan's Toshiba) and France. The Westinghouse AP1000 is the main basis of technology development in the immediate future.
Government targets for nuclear power have been increasing. As of June 2010, official installed nuclear capacity targets are understood to be 80 GWe by 2020, 200 GWe by 2030 and 400 GWe by 2050.
In September 2010, the China Daily reported that China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) alone plans to invest CNY 800 billion ($120 billion) into nuclear energy projects by 2020. Total investment in nuclear power plants, in which CNNC will hold controlling stakes, will reach CNY 500 billion ($75 billion) by 2015, according to CNNC. In order to fund the company's expansion target, CNNC plans to list its subsidiary, CNNC Nuclear Power Co Ltd in 2011, to attract strategic investors.

 

Nuclear power reactors in mainland China 

 

Much more at:  http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf63.html

World Bank energy chief aims to speed clean power

(Reuters) - Even before he became the World Bank's clean energy chief, Daniel Kammen had a lustrous list of accomplishments: professor of energy, public policy and nuclear engineering at the University of California-Berkeley, director of the Renewable and Appropriate Energy Laboratory and Energy and Climate Fellow for the Western Hemisphere.
So why take on the formidable dual tasks of seeing that the world's poor get better access to energy while curbing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change?
"We need to make a clean energy transition and we need to do it in a way that is inclusive and supportive of the poor, and not for the wealthy first and the poor second," Kammen told the Reuters Global Climate and Alternative Energy Summit on Tuesday. More at: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69B68520101012

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• World Bank appoints clean energy "czar" (reuters.com)
• Embracing the Spectrum: The Clean Energy Czar (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
• World Bank Appoints Clean Tech Czar (cleantechnica.com)
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China Sector Watch: Energy

Nuclear power
According to the World Nuclear Association, China is currently using eleven nuclear power reactors while seven remain under construction, and another ten about to start construction. This signals a huge change in China’s energy policy as it only developed less than 10 nuclear plants in the last 30 years. The government wants to lessen dependence on coal-powered plants and diversify its energy mix.
Coal processing is the main cause of China’s pollution troubles; costing an estimated 6 percent of its GDP according to the World Bank. Nuclear power in comparison is a more efficient and cleaner way to produce energy.
China is also looking to move towards becoming self-sufficient in reactor design and construction. So far, it has had to mix nuclear technology imported from France, United States, Russia, and Canada. Another motivation for shifting to nuclear power is it will lessen the use of railways. The transport of  coal from China’s north uses almost half the country’s rail capacity.
By 2020, China is looking to build more reactors leading to a sixfold increase in nuclear capacity to at least 50 GWe or possibly to 60 GWe and an eventual increase to 120-160 GWe by 2030.
For its nuclear power program, China relies heavily on imported uranium to fuel its nuclear power program.The State Power Grid Corporation expects to supply 3810 billion kWh in 2010 from 850-900 GWe. Growth is then expected to slow to 2020, when capacity is expected to reach 1500 GWe. At the end of 2007 there was reported to be 145 GWe of hydro capacity, 554 GWe fossil fuel, 9 GWe nuclear and 4 GWe wind, total 713 GWe.
Nuclear power serves those provinces located in the country’s coastal areas to rely on another source of energy besides coal brought in from the north. This is a better option considering how coastal cities are the places that attract the highest amount of foreign investment while also being the places that use the most amount of electricity. In 2007, nuclear power sources provided 2.3 percent of total electricity used in the country or 62.86 billion kWh.
Building more nuclear energy plans also corresponds to the government goals to provide more jobs and improve domestic demand during the economic downturn as they will need purchases from the steel and metal industry. China’s largest nuclear company, the China National Nuclear Corp., has already signed agreements with domestic banks in billions of yuan to finance projects.
According to statistics, investment in nuclear and wind power investments rose by 71.85 percent and 88.10 percent last year. State-owned power companies were stepping up investment to meet growing demand and boost economic growth as part of a government stimulus plan, said Zhang Guobao, director of China’s National Energy Administration. He also called on ministers to ensure there were appropriate measures to raise and save energy as well as using it more efficiently.http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2009/03/02/china-sector-watch-energy.html#more-2578