China's nuclear power: to achieve the goal of "double carbon", nuclear has 1+N magical uses

China aims to achieve carbon peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is a broad and profound economic and social systemic change. Imagine a day in the future when we pick up a product and the CO2 produced throughout the process is already on its label. And when you buy an appliance, its lifetime carbon emissions are also clearly on the label. Imagine, too, that for every kilowatt-hour of electricity we use, we need to charge a tax based on the carbon dioxide emitted during its production...

When carbon emissions become an attribute, a label, how will our lives change? As a green and low-carbon energy, the role of nuclear energy in this social change makes people have unlimited imagination space, and the change led by nuclear energy technology in the field of zero carbon and low carbon is even more exciting. Group company official micro column focus on the "double carbon" target under the nuclear action.

Carbon peak and carbon neutrality, in the public think that it is only human beings in response to the global warming caused by greenhouse gas emissions, international economic researchers have smelled the smoke that may be brewing, according to the Economist magazine analysis is expected that in the future, a new and more intense game between developed countries and developing countries, may be carried out through the global carbon emission tax. In this fundamental change that may affect the well-being of people around the world, the change of the energy industry, which is currently the main source of carbon emissions, bears the brunt of the change, and the status and role of nuclear energy as a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy source has become more important than ever. As the main force of CNNC to help the country win the "dual carbon" goal, China Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. is also deeply exploring and extensively exploring its own potential, and actively exploring possible business development directions and implementation paths.

To achieve "double carbon", nuclear energy has unique advantages

Has become an international consensus

"The development of nuclear energy is the most realistic strategic choice to achieve the goal of 'double carbon'!" On September 16 this year, at the Tsinghua Wudaokou "Carbon Neutral Economy" Forum, Lu Tiezhong, Party secretary and chairman of China Nuclear Power Co., LTD.

In his view, nuclear energy has the unique advantages of high energy density, small footprint and low long-term operation cost, and can currently replace fossil energy on a large scale, and has become the main force of clean energy in the world. Through the coordinated development of nuclear energy and clean energy such as Wind and water, it is of great significance to optimize the overall layout of energy and ensure the security of energy supply. The higher the proportion of nuclear power in China's energy structure, the more conducive to the grid's large proportion of intermittent renewable energy such as scenery. At the same time, the green development of our society and the diversified needs of the market will also accelerate the diversification of nuclear energy technology.

In August this year, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) issued a 2021 "Nuclear Energy Technology Brief" said that "nuclear energy is an important source of low-carbon electricity and heat, helping to achieve carbon neutrality", nuclear power as a low-carbon energy, 50 years to avoid about 74 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to nearly two years of global energy-related emissions. And because nuclear power plants produce both low-carbon electricity and heat, are cost competitive in many parts of the world, and also offer opportunities for decarbonizing energy-intensive industries, nuclear has the potential to increase integration with other low-carbon energy sources in the future decarbonized energy mix.

Thanks to the richest nuclear power reactors in China, China nuclear power also has the industry's leading nuclear power technology service capabilities and management level. As of September 2021, 19 of China's 22 nuclear power units that meet the calculation conditions of the World Association of Nuclear Power Operators (WANO) composite index have reached full 100 points, which fully indicates that its operation and management level has reached the world's advanced.

The proposal of the "dual carbon" goal brings a very good opportunity for the development of nuclear energy and its multi-purpose cause, and also puts forward higher requirements for the high-quality development of the nuclear energy industry. Recently, the Chinese government has also conveyed new expectations for the role of nuclear energy in the "two-carbon" strategy.

On October 24, The State Council issued the "Carbon Peak Action Plan before 2030" clearly proposed to "actively and safely develop nuclear power in an orderly manner." Rationally determine the layout and development timing of nuclear power plants, orderly development of nuclear power under the premise of ensuring safety, and maintain a steady pace of construction. We will actively promote demonstration projects of advanced reactor types such as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, fast reactors, modular small reactors, and floating reactors at sea, and carry out demonstrations of the comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy. We will intensify efforts to standardize and make nuclear power independent, accelerate research on key technologies and equipment, and cultivate high-end nuclear power equipment manufacturing industrial clusters. We will implement the strictest safety standards and the strictest supervision, and continue to improve our nuclear safety supervision capabilities."