Why China is betting on big nuclear reactors
9 hours ago
- #nuclear energy
- #China-US comparison
- #reactor technology
- China rapidly expands its nuclear fleet by building large, gigawatt-scale pressurized-water reactors, doubling capacity since 2016 to nearly 60 gigawatts.
- The US lags in large reactor construction, focusing instead on smaller and microreactors, such as Antares' sodium-cooled Mark-0, which aims for deployment by 2028.
- China's speed in reactor construction (5–7 years) stems from standardization and government investment, while global averages are around 9 years and US projects take about 15 years.
- Smaller reactors attract investment due to lower upfront costs and factory assembly, but they may be more expensive per unit of electricity than large reactors.
- China aims to surpass US and EU nuclear capacity by 2030, though it also explores small modular reactors like Linglong-1, balancing scale with diversification.