China’s climate change and nuclear plans

A report that I had missed before. The Yomiuri newspaper reported (May, 2007) that China plans to boost its nuclear power generation capacity to between 15 and 20 times its current level by the end of 2030.


Yomiuri Shimbun. The National Development and Reform Commission, which administers China’s energy policy, plans to increase nuclear power generation to between 120 million and 160 million kilowatts, according to a chinese official.

China has previously announced that it wanted to up nuclear power output to 40 million kilowatts by the end of 2020. To attain its goal under the new plan, China would need to build in excess of 100 nuclear reactors, each capable of generating 1 million kilowatts, over 20 years.

China is looking to accelerate nuclear power plants built by 2020 beyond the 40GW level with new applications for nuclear plants in interior provinces.

China’s climate change program [63 pages]


China is projected to be generating 6300 billion kwh of electricity in 2030.

160 GW of nuclear power could supply 1280 billion kwh at levels comparable to current nuclear power plant efficiency in the United States.

FURTHER READING
China’s hydroelectric buildout plans.

China would have about 35% power from non-fossil fuel sources in 2020. 270GW Hydro, 40GW nuclear, 123GW from renewables if targets are reached. 42% of power would be from non-coal sources if natural gas usage is increased as projected. CapGemini projects that China will have 1230GW of electrical power by 2020. Up from about 600GW in 2006 and 700GW in 2007.

Big nuclear power plans from China, Russia and India

Annular fuel modifications and high efficiency conversion of heat to electricity with advanced thermoelectrics would further boost power from nuclear plants.