As the world grapples with the urgent need to decarbonize energy systems, China is exploring an ambitious “Coal to Nuclear” (C2N) strategy: transforming retiring coal-fired power plant sites into hosts for advanced nuclear reactors. This innovative approach aims to leverage existing infrastructure to accelerate the nation’s clean energy transition, significantly reducing carbon emissions while maintaining energy security. The initiative, proposed by the state-owned China Energy Engineering Group Co. (CEEC), underscores China’s commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2060.
The Strategic Imperative: Decarbonization and Energy Security
China, the world’s largest coal consumer, still relies on coal for over half of its electricity generation, making it the single largest source of greenhouse gases. The nation has approximately 1.2 terawatts (TW) of coal-fired power generation capacity, with about 100 gigawatts (GW) slated for retirement in the next five years and roughly 100 GW by 2030. Repurposing these sites offers a dual benefit: rapidly phasing out high-emission coal and integrating low-carbon nuclear power. This aligns with China’s energy transition targets, including an emissions peak by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.
The C2N strategy is particularly appealing given China’s rapid economic growth and increasing electricity demand, especially in densely populated coastal areas where land for new power plant construction is scarce. By utilizing existing sites, China hopes to cut costs, save time, and overcome challenges associated with finding suitable new locations for nuclear projects.
Leveraging Existing Infrastructure: A Pathway to Efficiency
A key advantage of the C2N strategy lies in the ability to reuse significant existing infrastructure. Coal-fired power plants are typically situated in locations with:
- Established Grid Connections: Essential for transmitting electricity to consumers, reducing the need for new, costly transmission infrastructure.
- Water Access: Both coal and nuclear plants require substantial water for cooling systems, making existing water sources at coal sites highly valuable.
- Developed Land and Site Permits: Repurposing avoids the lengthy and complex processes of site selection, environmental impact assessments, and securing new permits.
The China Energy Engineering Group Co. (CEEC) has stated that its C2N strategy would enable faster construction of new nuclear power generation resources by taking advantage of these existing assets. This approach not only offers economic benefits but also helps retain local jobs and economic activity in communities historically reliant on coal.
Advanced Nuclear Reactors: The Core of the C2N Proposal
The C2N initiative centers on the deployment of advanced fourth-generation reactors, which offer enhanced safety features, higher efficiency, and greater flexibility than traditional designs. Two types of reactors are particularly well-suited for this transition:
High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactors (HTGRs)
HTGRs use helium as a coolant and graphite as a moderator, and they can generate much hotter steam than ordinary reactors, making them highly efficient. They require smaller safety zones, have lower water needs, and their operational parameters align more closely with existing coal plant steam systems, simplifying integration. China already operates a demonstration HTGR, the HTR-PM (high-temperature reactor with pebble bed modules), at Shidao Bay, which began commercial operation in January 2024, making it the world’s first Generation IV reactor in service. A 600-megawatt HTGR could be placed at an existing coal plant with little need for additional land.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
SMRs, such as China’s Linglong One (ACP-100), are compact and standardized, designed for factory fabrication and modular construction, which can reduce costs and construction time. The Linglong One, the world’s first onshore commercial SMR, is a multi-purpose pressurized water reactor capable of generating 1 billion kilowatt-hours annually, enough to power 526,000 homes. Its passive safety systems allow it to shut down autonomously in the event of a malfunction, enhancing public trust. SMRs’ smaller footprint and adaptability make them ideal for deployment in varied landscapes, including repurposed industrial sites.
Other advanced designs, such as molten salt thorium reactors, are also being explored in China. The inherent safety features of these newer technologies are expected to meet stringent safety requirements and improve public acceptance, particularly in coastal areas.
Benefits of the Coal-to-Nuclear Transition
The C2N strategy offers a multitude of benefits for China’s energy future:
- Accelerated Decarbonization: Directly replaces high-emission coal power with near-zero emission nuclear power, contributing significantly to carbon neutrality goals.
- Economic Savings: Reusing existing infrastructure like grid connections, cooling systems, and land can substantially lower the overall construction costs of new nuclear plants.
- Energy Security: Provides stable, reliable, and clean baseload electricity, diversifying China’s energy mix and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- Job Preservation and Economic Revitalization: Retains valuable infrastructure and potentially re-employs workers from retiring coal plants, supporting local economies.
- Efficient Land Use: Crucial in densely populated regions, as it avoids the need to acquire and develop new greenfield sites for nuclear facilities.
Challenges and Considerations
Despite the promising outlook, the C2N strategy faces several challenges:
- Compatibility and Safety Zoning: While advanced reactors have smaller safety footprints, stringent safety requirements for nuclear plants, including exclusion zones and water access, must be carefully assessed for each coal site, especially inland ones.
- Capital Intensity: Nuclear projects remain capital-intensive, requiring significant upfront investment. Long-term policy commitment and robust financing mechanisms are crucial.
- Regulatory and Policy Frameworks: The tightly controlled nuclear sector may need to adapt to facilitate conversions on a large scale, potentially involving traditional power companies.
- Public Acceptance: Nuclear technology remains a sensitive issue, and gaining public trust will require strict oversight, transparency, and clear communication about safety features.
- Transition Timeline: Given China’s vast coal capacity and the long construction timelines for nuclear plants (averaging seven years in China), the C2N transition could span several decades.
Conclusion: A Strategic Shift Towards Sustainable Energy
China’s “Coal to Nuclear” strategy represents a bold and pragmatic approach to accelerating its energy transition. By strategically repurposing retiring coal plant sites for advanced nuclear reactors, the nation aims to harness existing infrastructure for a cleaner, more secure energy future. While significant technical, economic, and social hurdles remain, the potential benefits—including substantial carbon reduction, cost savings, and enhanced energy security—make this initiative a critical component of China’s long-term sustainability goals. The success of this strategy could provide a powerful model for other coal-dependent nations seeking to decarbonize their energy systems.
