China has approved the construction of 11 new nuclear reactors, setting a new record and reinforcing its commitment to diverse energy sources. This move highlights China’s strategy to secure energy through multiple channels, similar to its approach with coal power.
According to BloombergNEF, China is currently building more nuclear power plants than any other nation. With these new approvals, China plans to expand its nuclear fleet further and aims to become the world’s largest nuclear power producer by 2030.
China operates 56 nuclear reactors, which together supply about 5% of the country’s electricity, as reported by the China Nuclear Energy Association. Citic Securities, an investment bank, predicts that China will continue to approve about 10 new reactors each year over the next three to five years.
Recent government data revealed that 26 nuclear reactors are already under construction in China, expected to add over 30 gigawatts (GW) of capacity once completed. Last year, a representative from the China Nuclear Energy Association projected that the country would approve six to eight new reactors annually in the foreseeable future.
The expansion of China’s nuclear power is partly driven by the need to reduce air pollution from coal-fired power plants, according to the World Nuclear Association. While many Western countries, excluding Germany, have acknowledged nuclear energy’s role in reaching net-zero emissions, China has not joined a recent international pledge to triple nuclear capacity by 2050. Nevertheless, China is betting on nuclear power to provide a cleaner and more reliable energy grid.