China: Nuclear Power Plant Electricity Generation Grows

The Chinese government is accelerating the restructuring of the national energy model, reducing fossil fuel consumption and increasing renewable electricity generation to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060.

Special attention is paid to the development of nuclear power plants, which generated 440,000 gigawatt/hour of electricity in 2023, accounting for nearly 5% of China’s total generation. According to the China Atomic Energy Administration (CAEA), increased nuclear power generation reduced coal consumption by 130 million tons last year, while carbon dioxide emissions fell by 350 million tons.

China currently has 55 nuclear power plants in operation, with their reactors generating a total of 57 gigawatts of electricity. Another 36 nuclear power plants with a total installed capacity of 44 gigawatts are planned or already under construction. China is currently the third country in the world in terms of installed nuclear generation capacity after the USA, France, but before Russia and South Korea.

In parallel with strengthening nuclear power generation, the Chinese government is increasing the capacity of wind farms, many of which are built in offshore areas to reduce the impact of turbines on the natural environment, and solar power plants, which are expected to generate at least 1200 gigawatts of electricity by 2030. In 2023, China became the world’s largest producer of solar panels.