According to a new report, China is ahead of the United States by 10-15 years in the field of nuclear technology. While Germany is dismantling its nuclear reactors, and the US and France are not making progress, China is rapidly increasing its number of reactors.
Stephen Ezella, vice president for global innovation policy at the Information Technology and Innovation Fund (ITIF), reports that China plans to build 150 new nuclear reactors between 2020 and 2035, with 27 already under construction. China builds reactors more than two and a half times faster than any other country, with an average construction period of about seven years.
The report states that analysts believe China may be ahead of the US in deploying fourth-generation reactors on a large scale by 10-15 years. China has already launched the world’s first fourth-generation nuclear reactor, the SHIDAWAN-1, with a capacity of 200 megavatts. The National Nuclear Energy Department of China reports that 90% of the technologies for this reactor were developed within the country.
If China continues to build six to eight new nuclear reactors per year, it is expected to surpass the US in nuclear energy production by 2030. China is also aiming for self-sufficiency in the nuclear fuel cycle, from uranium enrichment to fuel production.
Currently, the US operates 94 nuclear reactors, making it a leader in global nuclear energy production. However, the American nuclear infrastructure is aging and less efficient and safe compared to newer developments. No new reactors are currently being built in the US, with the last reactor, Vogtle Unit 4 at the Alvin V. Vogtl nuclear power plant in Georgia, beginning commercial operation on April 29, 2024, after years of delays and budget overruns. The total project cost, including two reactors, is estimated at over $30 billion, despite an initial expectation of $14 billion.
In China, 56 nuclear reactors are currently operational,