China targets 200GW nuclear capacity by 2040 to curb coal reliance

The China Nuclear Energy Association report highlights Beijing's aim to reach 200GW installed nuclear capacity by 2040, shifting away from coal and stabilising its energy mix
New Delhi
China plans to more than double its nuclear power capacity by 2040 as part of a strategic move to reduce reliance on coal and stabilise its energy mix, the South China Morning Post reported, citing a new report from the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA).
The report, released on Monday, outlines Beijing's intention to achieve 200 gigawatts (GW) of installed nuclear capacity by the end of the next decade. This would exceed twice the nuclear capacity of the United States, which stood at around 97GW in 2024, according to the US Energy Information Administration.
As of the end of 2024, China had 102 reactors either operational or under construction, with a combined capacity of 113GW. Most of these are located in the country's economically developed coastal provinces. A recent Goldman Sachs report noted that China already hosts nearly half of the world's 61 nuclear reactors currently being built.
The CNEA estimates that by the end of the 2030s, nuclear energy will account for roughly 10 per cent of the national energy mix.
New reactors reinforce nuclear momentum
In April, China's State Council approved the construction of 10 more nuclear reactors, signalling ongoing government commitment to nuclear energy as a central pillar of the country's decarbonisation strategy. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Beijing has approved the development of at least 10 new nuclear units.
The latest projects are expected to require a total investment of approximately 200 billion yuan ($27 billion). Eight of these reactors will employ China's domestically developed Hualong One design – a third-generation nuclear technology that China is promoting for international adoption.
According to experts cited in the report, 'The Hualong One is less vulnerable to earthquakes than other third-generation reactors abroad and has more safety redundancies, meaning we can build more in more places.'
Each Hualong One reactor can generate roughly 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – enough to supply power to about one million people.
Balancing coal dominance with cleaner options
Despite its clean energy ambitions, China remains the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases, accounting for over one-third of global emissions in 2023, according to United Nations data. Coal continues to dominate China's energy consumption profile.
The nuclear buildout is part of Beijing's broader effort to diversify its power generation base and meet climate goals without compromising energy security.
India and the US in context
By comparison, India had 8.18GW of nuclear power capacity across 24 reactors in 2024, per a statement by the Department of Atomic Energy. Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh stated that this figure is projected to grow to 22.48GW by 2031–32.
Meanwhile, competition between China and the United States in nuclear energy appears to be escalating. Last month, US President Donald Trump signed executive orders aiming to boost the country's nuclear capacity to approximately 400GW by 2050, Associated Press reported.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Hans India

2 hours ago

• Hans India

Last 10 years have seen poor youths getting selected for top Civil Services jobs: Jitendra Singh

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said that the last 11 years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have seen a democratisation of India's Civil Services with youths from poor families and remote areas getting selected for the country's top jobs and realising their aspirations. In an interview to Doordarshan News, the minister said that while at one time, the IAS and Civil Services were confined only to a handful of States like Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Kerala etc, today, we get toppers from the States which earlier hardly figured in the civil services list toppers from Punjab, Haryana and J&K. He cited the case of Parsanjit Kour, the young girl from Poonch, a border district in J&K, who made it to All India Rank 11 in the Civil Services Exam of 2022 in very first attempt or the boy from Punjab, Anmol Sher Singh Bedi who got All India Rank 2 in the Civil Services Exam of 2016. This, the Minister said, has restored faith in the objectivity and equal opportunity offered by the system and, thus, also led to democratisation of youth aspiration. 'This is the true essence of democracy -- where every mother, regardless of her socio-economic standing, has the confidence to believe that her child can reach the top," said Dr Jitendra Singh. The Minister said that the 11 years have been nothing short of transformational for India. 'What generations longed for over decades has been made possible in just over a decade,' he stated, adding that PM Modi has wiped the tears of the past and replaced them with eyes full of hope and future aspirations. Each passing year, the Minister said, has marked a new milestone -- be it in infrastructure, governance, technology, or youth empowerment -- creating unprecedented opportunities for every Indian. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh, stated that under PM Modi's leadership, citizens' self-esteem has been restored. Referring to the PM's historic 2016 call of "Start-Up India, Stand-Up India", he emphasised how it broadened the employment horizon beyond traditional government jobs. 'It was only then people realised that job doesn't only mean "Sarkari Naukri", but also innovation, enterprise, and startups,' the Minister noted. India's biotech sector, he highlighted, is a perfect example -- growing from just 50 start-ups in 2014 to over 10,075 in 2024, with a leap in valuation from $10 billion to nearly $170 billion. He credited this to strong public-private partnerships and forward-thinking policies like Bio-E3 and the National Quantum Mission.

Indian Express

a day ago

• Indian Express

Israel says Iran's nuclear plans set back by two years: Reports

Israel said on Saturday that its military operations have delayed Iran's suspected nuclear programme by at least two years, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported. The statement came a day after US President Donald Trump warned that Iran has no more than two weeks to avoid possible American air strikes. Trump said he is still deciding whether to involve the United States in Israel's military campaign. 'Iran doesn't want to speak to Europe. They want to speak to us. Europe is not going to be able to help in this,' Trump told reporters, according to the SCMP. He added that he is unlikely to ask Israel to stop its attacks, saying, 'If somebody's winning, it's a little bit harder to do.' Israel on the other hand claimed to have carried out further air strikes on missile storage and launch sites in central Iran. Israel said the attacks aim to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, though Iran denies seeking to build such weapons. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar told Germany's Bild newspaper, as reported by SCMP, 'According to the assessment we hear, we already delayed for at least two or three years the possibility for them to have a nuclear bomb.' He said the attacks would continue, adding, 'We will do everything that we can do there in order to remove this threat.' European diplomats have been trying to restart talks with Iran. Officials from Britain, France and Germany met Iran's deputy foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, in Geneva and urged Iran to return to negotiations with the United States. France's Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, as reported by the SCMP, 'We invited the Iranian minister to consider negotiations with all sides, including the United States, without awaiting the cessation of strikes, which we also hope for.' Araghchi told NBC News after the meeting, 'We're not prepared to negotiate with them any more, as long as the aggression continues.' The SCMP said that any American involvement would likely involve 'bunker-buster' bombs to target Iran's underground uranium enrichment plant at Fordo. Shops and markets in Tehran were mostly closed on Friday. Iran has not updated its official death toll since Sunday, when it said at least 224 people had been killed. A US-based group, the Human Rights Activists News Agency, said at least 657 people had died, including 263 civilians. Since Israel began its attacks on June 13, Iran has fired missiles and drones at Israel. Israeli officials said 25 people have been killed. A hospital in Haifa reported 19 injuries from the latest attacks. Britain's Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it was important to avoid the conflict spreading further. The Arab League and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation held talks on the situation. Switzerland announced it is closing its embassy in Tehran for now but will continue to represent US interests there.

Mint

2 days ago

• Mint

Greta Thunberg, once mocked in China as ‘naive white leftist', suddenly becomes popular on social media; here's why

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, once mocked in China, is now getting unexpected support from Chinese social media users. This change came after she had tried to sail to Gaza with 11 others to break Israel's blockade and deliver aid. Israeli forces stopped the boat and deported her back to Europe. Her move was followed closely in China. Greta Thunberg, 22, was once criticised on Chinese social media as a 'naive white leftist'. She is now being praised for her Gaza support. Many praised her courage and support for Palestine, saying she risked her life for her beliefs. One user on Weibo has said they used to laugh at her earlier activism but now respect her for standing firm on the Gaza issue. 'Although we oppose this 'young girl' on many issues, we support what she is doing now on the Gaza issue,' the South China Morning Post quoted one user as posting on Weibo. 'She truly practices what she preaches. She even risked her life to go to Gaza. Respect. I hope she stays safe,' a user said. Weibo's AI tracker confirms this change, saying she's seen as someone who truly acts on her beliefs. Other platforms like Douyin and Bilibili also show more support for her. Earlier, Thunberg faced backlash in China for criticising its environmental and human rights policies. State-run media had called her a 'tool of Western politics' and told her to focus only on climate issues. Experts say this shift is not just about Thunberg but reflects growing support for Palestine and rising anti-Israel feelings in China. According to a Hong Kong professor, many Chinese people now support Thunberg because she shares Beijing's view on Gaza. So, it's politics, not climate, which seems to be shaping opinions about her in China right now. 'It is simply because anti-American sentiment has been on the rise among Chinese netizens in recent years, leading to a significant decline in their evaluation of Israel,' SCMP quoted Yan Zhihua as saying.