118
Z. Lu and G. Zhu
security and environmental protection. Clean coal technologies will be increasingly
valued and deployed. Peak shaving technologies for thermal power plants also lay
the technical groundwork for improving the integration of renewable energy assets
within power grids.
4.2.1.2 The Development of Nuclear Power in China
In December 1991, China’s first commercial nuclear power plant (Qinshan l) was
connected to the grid, and by December 2019, the Chinese mainland had 45 nuclear
power units in operation in 16 nuclear plants. The installed capacity of nuclear power
stands at 48.74 million kW, accounting for 2.4% of the total installed capacity. In
2019, the country’s nuclear power plants produced 348.7 billion kWh, or 4.8% of
the total electrical output.
The installed capacity of nuclear power and its annual growth on the Chinese
mainland between 2009 and 2019 are shown in Fig. 4.12. With the exception of
2012, the country’s nuclear capacity expanded during all other years. However, there
have been marked fluctuations in the growth. Nuclear power now plays a noticeable
role in the overall energy mix, though its share in the total installed capacity remains
minor. Between 2009 and 2019, the share of nuclear power in the total installed
capacity edged up from 1.0 to 2.4%. In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident
in 2011, China took a much more cautious stance to the approval of nuclear power
projects. In December 2012, the National Nuclear Safety Administration approved
the construction of the third and fourth units (Phase II) for the Tianwan Nuclear Power
Plant. No new approvals were granted in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, a total of eight
nuclear power units were approved. No conventional nuclear power projects were
approved in the subsequent three years (Xu 2018). In October 2019, construction
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Installed Capacity (10,000 kW)
Annual Growth
Fig. 4.12 Nuclear electricity generating capacity on the Chinese Mainland 2009–2019
Z. Lu and G. Zhu
security and environmental protection. Clean coal technologies will be increasingly
valued and deployed. Peak shaving technologies for thermal power plants also lay
the technical groundwork for improving the integration of renewable energy assets
within power grids.
4.2.1.2 The Development of Nuclear Power in China
In December 1991, China’s first commercial nuclear power plant (Qinshan l) was
connected to the grid, and by December 2019, the Chinese mainland had 45 nuclear
power units in operation in 16 nuclear plants. The installed capacity of nuclear power
stands at 48.74 million kW, accounting for 2.4% of the total installed capacity. In
2019, the country’s nuclear power plants produced 348.7 billion kWh, or 4.8% of
the total electrical output.
The installed capacity of nuclear power and its annual growth on the Chinese
mainland between 2009 and 2019 are shown in Fig. 4.12. With the exception of
2012, the country’s nuclear capacity expanded during all other years. However, there
have been marked fluctuations in the growth. Nuclear power now plays a noticeable
role in the overall energy mix, though its share in the total installed capacity remains
minor. Between 2009 and 2019, the share of nuclear power in the total installed
capacity edged up from 1.0 to 2.4%. In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident
in 2011, China took a much more cautious stance to the approval of nuclear power
projects. In December 2012, the National Nuclear Safety Administration approved
the construction of the third and fourth units (Phase II) for the Tianwan Nuclear Power
Plant. No new approvals were granted in 2013 and 2014. In 2015, a total of eight
nuclear power units were approved. No conventional nuclear power projects were
approved in the subsequent three years (Xu 2018). In October 2019, construction
0.0%
5.0%
10.0%
15.0%
20.0%
25.0%
30.0%
35.0%
40.0%
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
6000
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Installed Capacity (10,000 kW)
Annual Growth
Fig. 4.12 Nuclear electricity generating capacity on the Chinese Mainland 2009–2019