China's total nuclear power generation capacity tops world rankings

SHENZHEN -- China's total nuclear power generation capacity, including units in operation, under construction and officially approved, ranks first in the world, according to the China Energy Research Society.

China has 58.08 million kilowatts of nuclear power units in operation, and 55.05 million kilowatts officially approved or under construction, making its total capacity the highest in the world, said CERS President Shi Yubo during the Third China Nuclear Energy High-Quality Development Conference in Shenzhen, South China's Guangdong province, which ran from Monday to Wednesday this week.

Shi added that it is imperative to focus on forging new quality productive forces and promoting high-quality development in the nuclear energy sector.

According to Huang Xuenong, a senior official of the National Energy Administration, China's nuclear power generation had reached 430 billion kilowatt-hours in 2023 — accounting for more than 13 percent of its total clean energy generation, which stood at about 3.1 trillion kilowatt-hours.

The conference, hosted by the CERS and the China General Nuclear Power Group, attracted over 1,200 representatives from government departments, research institutions, industry associations and enterprises in the nuclear energy sector, who engaged in discussions on nuclear power development prospects, nuclear medicine, nuclear fusion, nuclear energy development strategy, and the digitalization of nuclear energy.

The Shenzhen International Nuclear Energy Industry Innovation Expo was also held along with the conference this week.