Construction is in progress on 24 nuclear power units in China, with a total installed capacity of about 26.81 million kilowatt (kW), ranking the first in the world. Since 2022, China has approved 10 new nuclear power units, put three new commercial units into operation and started construction on six new units, according to the report titled “China Nuclear Energy Development Report 2023” released by the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA). China now has 54 commercial nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 56.82 million kW, ranking third in the world. In 2022, China's nuclear power units generated 417.78 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, up 2.5% year-on-year, accounting for about 4.7% of the country's total electricity generation. Nuclear power generation in China ranks second in the world, according to the report. Compared with coal-fired power stations, China's nuclear power generation in 2022 reduced coal burning by nearly 120 million tons and carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 310 million tons, it noted.
The safety performance of China's nuclear power is also at an advanced level globally, the report showed. Last year, 37 units in China scored full marks on the World Nuclear Power Operators Association's comprehensive index, accounting for 50% of the full score units in the world, Zhang Tingke, Secretary General of the CNEA, said. The report also showed that China's independent innovation capacity in the field of nuclear power has been significantly enhanced.
Construction work started in March 22 on the Sanmen No 4 unit in Guangdong province, which was primarily designed and manufactured by domestic institutions. Chinese companies will build and operate it independently, with a localization rate of nearly 70%, the Global Times reports.
