Russia has said it will help China surpass the United States in nuclear energy capacity, which could change the global energy balance. According to Reuters, Rosatom head Alexei Likhachev told Russian state television that Russia is already supporting China’s nuclear development. China had 53.2 gigawatts of nuclear reactor capacity as of April 2024, while the United States has about 97 GW. That’s the gap Russia says it will help China close.
What is happening?
Russian state nuclear company Rosatom has built four reactors in China and is building four more, according to Likhachev. He told state television that China’s goal is to surpass the United States in nuclear capacity by exceeding 100 GW. He also said China will need closed nuclear fuel cycle reactors using Russian technology to achieve this goal.
“China has ambitious plans for the development of atomic energy. The task is to catch up and surpass the United States in installed capacity, which means reaching a capacity of more than 100 gigawatts,” Likhachev told Russian state television, quoted by Reuters.
“Of course. We will help. We are already helping,” he added in response to whether Russia would help China achieve this goal.
Why is nuclear energy important?
Nuclear power can provide large amounts of electricity without carbon pollution.
The U.S. Department of Energy says it is one of the country’s largest sources of clean energy, accounting for nearly 20% of electricity generation. He also stated in 2023: “International Energy Agency analysis shows that nuclear power will more than double from 2020 to 2050 under global net zero emissions scenarios by 2050 and shows that nuclear power declines would make reaching net zero more difficult and costly.”
At the same time, nuclear power has some drawbacks, including radioactive waste, thermal pollution, safety issues, high costs and more, according to Nuclear-power.com.
A review in Frontiers in Environmental Economics added that nuclear power projects may face higher costs and liabilities from accidents. The authors noted that while nuclear energy is a “non-fossil energy source,” other renewable options, such as wind or solar, are not being sufficiently explored.
What is being done regarding expansion?
Outside of this plan, the International Atomic Energy Agency established standards for reactor safety, inspections and waste management. The DOE continues to frame nuclear power as an important part of a balanced clean energy strategy in the United States, while others focused on sustainability urge greater investment in less expensive and more time-consuming renewable solutions.
Nuclear power can produce large amounts of electricity without planet-warming carbon emissions, but it also raises waste, safety and cost issues. As China continues to increase its capacity with help from Russia, international oversight will be important to ensure the expansion is managed responsibly.
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