Jun 19, 2024 06:00:00

China is likely to become the de facto world leader in nuclear technology, 10 to 15 years ahead of the United States, with its large-scale deployment of Generation IV nuclear systems.

A report released by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), a US public policy think tank, has found that China is one of the world's leading nuclear powers and may be 10 to 15 years ahead of the United States in deploying

Gen IV nuclear systems , which are expected to be commercially deployed from the 2030s.

How Innovative Is China in Nuclear Power? | ITIF
https://itif.org/publications/2024/06/17/how-innovative-is-china-in-nuclear-power/

In August 2023,

Jacopo Bongiorno , a professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told CNBC that 'China is now the de facto world leader in nuclear technology.'

As Professor Bongiorno's words support, China is actively building nuclear reactors as a nation, with plans to build 150 new reactors over the 15 years from 2020 to 2035, with 56 already completed and 27 under construction at the time of writing. At this rate, China will surpass the United States in the number of nuclear power plants by 2030.

Below is a graph showing the number of nuclear reactors as of May 2024, with blue indicating those in operation and orange indicating those under construction. The United States operates 94 nuclear reactors, accounting for one-third of the world's nuclear power generation, but has built only two new reactors in the past decade.

In addition, the Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant in Shandong Province, which began operation in December 2023, uses

a gas-cooled fast reactor, which is classified as a 'Generation 4 nuclear system,' a next-generation nuclear reactor. The National Energy Administration has announced that 93.4% of the equipment is domestically produced.

World's first 4th generation nuclear power plant begins commercial operation in Shandong Province (China) | Business Brief - JETRO's overseas news - JETRO
https://www.jetro.go.jp/biznews/2023/12/62b76e4c0ce43fd5.html

According to ITIF, it is not just the state-owned China General Nuclear Group (CGN) and China National Nuclear Power (CNNP) that are technologically superior. Rather, it is the country's consistent stance of encouraging nuclear-related technologies, with a wide range of support systems including low-interest financing and feed-in tariffs, that has led to technological innovation. China is also a world leader in the development and deployment of cost-competitive small modular reactors (SMRs).

Citing analysis by industry analysts, the ITIF noted that 'the United States and China are at the same level of technological development in nuclear fusion technology,' but expressed the view that China would have an advantage when it comes to expanding nuclear fusion technology once it becomes technologically feasible.

In terms of patents, China's share of nuclear-related patents increased from 1.3% to 13.4% between 2008 and 2023, and China is the top country in terms of the number of nuclear fusion patent applications.

To regain its leadership position, the ITIF recommends, the U.S. will need a coherent national strategy and whole-of-government approach, support for new nuclear technologies, and increased funding and staffing for the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.