FUZHOU – China has announced the completion of the preliminary design for its first fourth-generation, gigawatt-level commercial fast neutron reactor, the CFR-1000. This significant development was unveiled by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) at a symposium on advanced nuclear energy development held in Fuzhou, Fujian province, on Tuesday. The CFR-1000, with an installed capacity of up to 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of electricity, represents a crucial step in China’s long-term nuclear energy strategy, aiming for enhanced safety, sustainability, and economic performance.
A Leap in Nuclear Energy Strategy
The unveiling of the CFR-1000’s design signifies major progress in China’s “three-step” technology roadmap for sustainable nuclear energy development: thermal reactors, fast reactors, and controlled nuclear fusion reactors. Fast neutron reactors are internationally recognized as a preferred type among fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy systems due to their advantages in fuel utilization, waste reduction, and safety. This move is also part of China’s broader efforts to improve its energy mix, ensure energy security, and meet its dual carbon targets by promoting green and low-carbon development.
Understanding Fast Neutron Reactors
Unlike conventional thermal reactors that use slowed neutrons, fast neutron reactors utilize fast neutrons to sustain nuclear fission and generate heat for power production. This distinction allows them to extract significantly more energy from uranium—potentially up to 60 times more than traditional reactors—by efficiently using uranium-238 in addition to the fissile U-235 isotope. This process, known as breeding, can produce new fissile material, such as plutonium-239, from uranium-238, thereby extending nuclear power programs for thousands of years and improving nuclear waste management.
Advantages of the CFR-1000 Design
The CFR-1000 is a sodium-cooled pool-type fast neutron reactor, a technology considered the most mature and promising among fourth-generation concepts due to its high breeding ratio, strong capacity to transmute long-lived radioactive waste, and inherent safety features. With over 400 reactor-years of operational experience worldwide with sodium-cooled fast reactors, this technology offers a robust foundation for commercial application. The ability of fast reactors to transmute long-lived isotopes into shorter-lived ones further reduces the radiotoxic inventory and eases long-term storage challenges, enhancing the environmental sustainability of nuclear energy.
China’s Journey in Fast Reactor Development
China has been actively developing fast reactor technology for over a decade. Its first experimental fast reactor, CEFR (China Experimental Fast Reactor), was connected to the grid in 2011. Building on this experience, China then initiated the construction of the CFR-600, a demonstration fast reactor, in Xiapu, Fujian province, with its first unit starting operation at a reduced capacity in 2023. The second unit of the CFR-600 is currently under construction.
Domestic Mastery and Global Standing
According to Zheng Yanguo, CNNC’s deputy chief engineer, China has independently mastered all core and supporting technologies for large-scale fast reactors, establishing a comprehensive industrial chain. This puts China’s fast neutron reactor technology among the global leaders. Other major nuclear powers, including Russia and the United States, are also pursuing advanced reactor designs with similar goals of fuel efficiency and cleaner power. Russia currently operates the world’s largest capacity fast reactor, the BN-800.
Future Outlook and Global Implications
The CFR-1000 is currently awaiting approval, with commercial operation anticipated to begin after 2030, possibly around 2034-2036. While the exact location for its construction has not been announced, its development is poised to redefine nuclear power’s role in China’s clean energy transition and cement the nation’s status as a nuclear powerhouse. The long-term vision includes achieving 200 GW of nuclear capacity by 2035 and 400-500 GW by 2050, significantly offsetting CO₂ emissions.
The advancement of fast breeder reactors, however, also raises international discussions regarding non-proliferation, as these reactors produce plutonium, which can be used in nuclear weapons. While fast reactor development has seen declines or suspensions in many Western countries due to high costs and technical challenges, China and Russia are currently leading in this field. The continued progress of the CFR-1000 underscores China’s commitment to this advanced nuclear technology.
