context: Increased use of domestic nuclear tech was mentioned in the 14th 5-year plan on energy tech innovation. However, even with this uptick in approvals of new units, nuclear power still only accounts for a fraction of the energy mix. After the 2011 Fukushima accident, nuclear power has only recently started to regain traction in energy supply considerations.
Two new nuclear power projects were approved during a State Council meeting headed by Premier Li Keqiang on 13 Sep 2022. This brings the number of approved nuclear power units in 2022 to the highest number since 2008. According to a report on the meeting,
- five new projects were approved in 2022, bringing the total of new nuclear power units (worth C¥200 bn) to ten, being
- four units in Guangzhou
- two units each in Fujian, Zhejiang and Shandong
- the two new projects include
- the second project phase at Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in Fujian
- adding units three and four of six in planning
- using domestic Hualong One tech (four out of ten units in 2022)
- each unit generating 1,212 MW
- 58 months construction period for each unit
- the first project phase at Lianjiang nuclear power plant in Guangdong
- building units one and two of six in planning
- using domestic CAP1000 tech (six out of ten units in 2022)
- 56 months construction period for each unit
- the second project phase at Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in Fujian
- China had 54 nuclear power generation units by end June 2022
- 55.78 GW installed capacity, raking third globally
- making up five percent of national power generation
- 407,14 GWh in 2021, up 11.17 percent y-o-y
Wang Shoujun 王寿君 Chinese Nuclear Society chairman expects an annual number of six to eight nuclear power units to be approved between 2022 and 2025. The installed capacity will reach 70 GW in 2025, while nuclear power's share of power generation will reach ten percent by 2035, Wang adds.