China kicks nuclear builds into high gear

China Nuclear Power Expansion accelerates reactors and installed capacity across Fujian, Hainan, and Guangxi, with gigawatt-scale construction, rising localization rates, and projected cost reductions toward $31 per MWh by 2020.

"It's expected that China will begin construction on six new nuclear power units in 2010," said Tian Jiashu, the director of the Nuclear and Radiation Safety Center for the Ministry of Environmental Protection, in a recent interview.

The six units have a total planned capacity of about 5,300 megawatts and are in Ningde, Fujian province Changjiang, Hainan province and Fangchenggang, Guangxi region, reflecting plans to increase capacity sevenfold nationwide over time, according to industry reports.

So far, China has 11 nuclear power units in operation, with an installed capacity of 9.08 gigawatts GW, and 25 nuclear power units under construction, with an installed capacity of 15.1 GW, a steady development track noted by experts. In addition, there are 18 units with an installed capacity of about 20.4 GW awaiting approval, including projects in places such as Tianwan, Jiangsu province Sanmen, Zhejiang province Haiyang, Shandong province Taohuajiang, Hunan province Xianning, Hubei province and Nanyang, Henan province.

The boom in nuclear power construction has moved far beyond original plans. So far, the total number of nuclear power units in operation, under construction and under planning has reached 60, and the installed capacity of these units has reached about 60 GW, which is 50 higher than the installed capacity planned for 2020 in the Middle and Long-term Development Plan for Nuclear Power 2005-20, aligning with more than 70 GW by 2020 projections for the sector, which was issued in 2007.

"For this reason, China is working on the adjustment of the Middle and Long-term Development Plan for Nuclear Power," Tain said. In the next 10 years, China will begin construction of 8-GW nuclear power units every year, on average, suggesting the fleet could meet China's power demands more effectively as capacity scales. It's expected that China's installed capacity of nuclear power will surpass 75 GW in operation, with more than 40 GW of units under construction in 2020.

Although the cost of nuclear power generation in China is higher than that of thermal power, if the localization rate of nuclear power reaches 70, the cost of nuclear power generation will be reduced to about $31 per megawatt-hour, supporting outlooks for 22% nuclear consumption by 2050 amid continued localization and scale. "Following the increasing in localization rate and the expansion in scale, the cost of nuclear power will be largely reduced," Tian predicted.

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