Premier Li Keqiang chaired an executive meeting of the State Council on April 20 to deploy measures to further improve agricultural production in spring to ensure a bumper harvest of grain and a stable supply of important Shenzhen Agricultural Products Group Co.Ltd(000061) crops; Determine measures to ensure and increase energy supply, and improve the guarantee capacity of energy for economic and social development.
The meeting pointed out that we should be based on China’s national conditions, respond to external challenges, grasp key points, strengthen energy supply, and take precautions to promote the construction of energy projects with mature conditions and development needs. In addition to giving full play to the main energy role of coal and promoting the transformation of coal-fired power units, the meeting called for the orderly development of nuclear power under the premise of strict supervision and ensuring absolute safety. The three new nuclear power unit projects that have been comprehensively evaluated and reviewed and incorporated into the national plan shall be approved.
This is the first time since April 2021 that a new nuclear power project has been approved by the State Council. Before the formal commencement, the nuclear power project must also obtain the construction license issued by the national nuclear safety administration. Surging news learned from many sources that the above three projects are Sanmen Nuclear Power Phase II using domestic cap1000 technology, Haiyang nuclear power phase II and Lufeng nuclear power units 5 and 6 using Hualong No. 1 technology.
Large scale nuclear power projects have always been a sharp weapon for steady growth. As a huge and complex system engineering, nuclear power projects have large one-time investment amount, long industrial chain and long construction cycle. During the construction process, a large number of electromechanical equipment and construction, construction and installation and design technical services are required, which can form a direct and indirect pulling effect on a considerable number of industries. A million kilowatt nuclear power unit can provide nearly 10000 jobs, contribute hundreds of billions of yuan to the industrial chain in the whole life cycle, and help to expand effective investment.
At the national two sessions this year, Premier Li Keqiang pointed out in his government work report that effective investment will be actively expanded this year. Focusing on the major national strategic deployment and the 14th five year plan, we will moderately advance infrastructure investment. We will build key water conservancy projects, comprehensive three-dimensional transportation networks, important energy bases and facilities, accelerate the renewal and transformation of urban gas pipelines, water supply and drainage pipelines and other pipe networks, improve flood control and drainage facilities, and continue to promote the construction of underground comprehensive pipe corridors.
In the past three years, new nuclear power projects in China have been approved to start. The press conference of the National Energy Administration in July 2019 disclosed that as of the end of June of that year, the nuclear power projects of yamadong Rongcheng, Fujian Zhangzhou and Guangdong taipingling had been approved, thus breaking the three-year frozen state of China’s new conventional nuclear power units. In September 2020, under the background of “six stabilities” and “six guarantees”, Hainan Changjiang nuclear power phase II project and Zhejiang Sanao nuclear power phase I project were approved. According to surging news, Tianwan nuclear power phase IV project, xudabao nuclear power phase II project and Changjiang small reactor project were approved in April 2021.
China is the country with the largest scale of nuclear power under construction in the world, and the number of nuclear power units in operation ranks third in the world, second only to the United States and France. According to the National Nuclear Safety Bureau, as of December 31, 2021, there were 71 nuclear power plants in Chinese mainland, including 52 generating units.
Nuclear power, with zero carbon emission, stable output and partial peak shaving capacity, has become one of the indispensable means for China to achieve the goal of carbon peaking and carbon neutralization.
The modern energy system plan for the 14th five year plan released by the national development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration in late March proposed to actively, safely and orderly develop nuclear power. On the premise of ensuring safety, we will actively and orderly promote the construction of coastal nuclear power projects, maintain a stable pace of construction, and reasonably arrange new coastal nuclear power projects. Carry out comprehensive utilization demonstration of nuclear energy, actively promote advanced reactor type demonstration projects such as high-temperature gas cooled reactor, fast reactor, modular small reactor and offshore floating reactor, and promote the comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy in the fields of clean heating, industrial heating and seawater desalination. Effectively protect nuclear power plant site resources. By 2025, the installed capacity of nuclear power operation will reach about 70 million KW.
energy crisis, European countries embrace nuclear energy
In the context of decarbonization of the power system and the pursuit of further energy independence by many countries after the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, low-carbon and high-energy density nuclear power has once again become a key option in the energy strategy of important global economies.
The UK announced its determination to revitalize local nuclear power in its recently released British energy security strategy. The strategy proposes that a large number of data prove that nuclear energy is the only reliable and low-carbon power generation form, and its power generation capacity is more than 100 times that of Cecep Solar Energy Co.Ltd(000591) power plants of the same scale. “Only by relying on nuclear energy can we ensure that the UK has an adequate and reliable power base. By 2050, the UK’s civil nuclear power deployment plan will increase to 24gw – three times more than now, which is expected to meet 25% of electricity demand.” Britain currently has only. According to the statement, the new nuclear power plan will include traditional large-scale reactors and small modular reactors that have not been commercialized. The strategy states that it will “add up to eight reactors in the next series of projects”.
Before the escalation of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, after experiencing the “most expensive winter in history” since last year, French President macron’s attitude towards nuclear power turned 180 degrees compared with his early days in office.
In November 2021, macron said in a national television speech: “in order to ensure France’s energy independence and achieve our (climate) goals, especially carbon neutrality in 2050, we will restart the construction of China’s nuclear reactors for the first time in decades.” He said that in order to keep energy prices at a “reasonable” level and reduce dependence on foreign countries, France must invest in carbon free energy on its own land while saving energy.
Three months later, macron announced his new nuclear strategy in a speech at a turbine plant in the northeastern city of Belfort. “We must revive the French nuclear industry. The conditions are ripe.” He made it clear that he hoped to build six new nuclear reactors and start the feasibility study of building another eight nuclear reactors. Macron admitted that France has not invested in the nuclear power industry since the Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011. “Some countries have made a radical choice to abandon nuclear power. France has not done so, but we have not invested because of doubts.” He also announced that the operating life of old nuclear reactors should be extended to 50 years or more on the premise of safety, and said that 1 billion euros would be provided for the development of innovative small reactors.
The energy market disorder caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has also changed Belgium’s established denuclearization plan. After months of debate on nuclear power, the Belgian coalition government reached a plan in December 2021. Without energy shortage, Doel 4 and tihange 3 nuclear power plants will be closed before 2025, when the country will withdraw from nuclear power.
The Belgian government announced on March 18 that it had decided to take the necessary measures to extend the operating life of Doel 4 and tihange 3 by 10 years to 2035. “At a time of geopolitical turmoil, this will reduce Belgium’s dependence on fossil fuels. The transition to renewable energy will also accelerate with additional investment in offshore wind, hydrogen, Cecep Solar Energy Co.Ltd(000591) and sustainable transportation.”
Facing the rising price of fossil fuels, the Netherlands proposed in December 2021 that nuclear energy can effectively supplement Cecep Solar Energy Co.Ltd(000591) , wind energy and geothermal energy, reduce the dependence on natural gas import through the construction of nuclear power plants, plan to build two new nuclear power plants, and allow the existing nuclear power plants to operate for a longer time on the premise of ensuring safety. At the same time, it will provide 500 million euros of financial support for the construction of new nuclear power plants by 2025.
Germany, Europe’s largest economy, once had the voice of rethinking the role of nuclear energy. After the Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan in 2011, the attitude of EU Member States towards the development of nuclear energy showed two extremes. Compared with the countries that still adhere to the development of nuclear power, such as Britain and France, Germany is the strongest “nuclear abandonment” faction. According to the plan, the last three nuclear power plants in operation in Germany will be shut down in 2022. Germany is also one of the EU countries highly dependent on Russian natural gas, and about half of the natural gas must be imported from Russia.
The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has not changed Germany’s determination to go nuclear. Robert habek, deputy Chancellor and Minister of economy and climate protection of Germany, previously announced that the country adheres to the plan to close the last three nuclear power plants this year, focuses instead on the construction of liquefied natural gas terminals, and will accelerate the expansion of further investment in renewable energy.
