CPIC to promote Xiaomoshan nuclear power project in Hunan province

1. To build resource-saving and environmental–friendly society through large scale development of nuclear power
Energy, environment and climate change have become the main topics of the highest meetings nowadays. The change in energy mix will have a profound impact on the world economy and political structure. According to the World Bank, clean fossil fuels, fossil fuels technologies and fuel efficiency improvement will not solve the long-standing issue of accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. To solve the problem, the use of nuclear power and renewable resources should be adopted.

At present, the world has total nuclear power capacity of 370 million kilowatts, 436 reactors in service and 44 reactors under construction. Nuclear power constitutes 15% of world power generation. The proportion is bigger in developing countries such as in the United States, nuclear power constitutes 19%, Japan 28% and France 77%. In China nuclear power proportion is only 1.9%.
30 tons of nuclear fuel is needed for a million-kilowatt nuclear unit throughout one year and no emission of carbon dioxide. Yet to generate the same amount of electricity, a coal fired unit of a million-kilowatt will need 3 million tons of coal. At the same time, 6.5 million tons of carbon dioxide will be discharged. According to the statistics, nuclear power in France each year helps reduce 360 million tons of greenhouse gas and 700 million tons in Europe. In the past 20 years, nuclear power helps the United States reduce about 7 billion tons of greenhouse gas.

According to the IAEA, about 300 nuclear units of one GW level will come on line by 2030 in the world and 72% greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced. China, with 11 operational units at present, is expecting a total installed capacity of 70 million kilowatts with 60 units in service by 2020. Nuclear power will constitute 5% of electricity generation and every year about 400 million tons of greenhouse gases will be reduced.

2. Nuclear power development is the best solution to energy shortage in Hunan province
Hunan province lacks primary energy. By the end of 2008, the power generation capacity has reached 25.2 million kilowatts. The thermal power is 14.36 million kilowatts, accounting for 57% of the total installed capacity. The amount of coal needed for thermal power reached 23 million tons and11 million tons were transported from other provinces.

According to the Eleventh Five-Year Plan and the 2020 Long-Term Goal, by 2020 the amount of electricity needed will be 210 billion kwh, with maximum load of 46.5 million kilowatts. To make that happen, 47 million tons of coal will be needed and 3500 tons of coal will be transported to Hunan from other provinces.  The burning of such large amount of coal will cause pollution to environment. And there might be transportation problems. All in all, the best way to energy shortage in Hunan province is to develop nuclear power.

3. AP1000 is the safest and most advanced technology China ever imported
The AP1000, developed by Westinghouse, has two features.
Advanced Safety System
The AP1000, based on the proven performance of Westinghouse-designed PWRs, is an advanced 1000 MWe nuclear power plant that uses the forces of nature and simplicity of design to enhance plant safety and operations. The probability of core melt accident is 5.08 × 10-7 / year.
Reduced construction cost
AP1000 has a designed life of 60 years. With simple structure and comparatively fewer components, the construction and maintenance cost is lower. The construction period is reduced with modular design and advanced construction technology. The nuclear fuel reloading period will reach 18-24 months. It is expected that the price of electricity produced by AP1000 reactor will be lower than the price of electricity through thermal power.
A new round of nuclear power development has started in the United States. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has received construction applications for 12 AP1000 reactors, among which 6 reactors has been signed EPC contracts. China is promoting two nuclear programs with AP1000 technology at present. One is Sanmen nuclear power plant (Zhejiang province), which has started construction in April 19th 2009 and Haiyang nuclear power plant (Shandong province), which has started construction in August 2009.

4. CPIC to promote Xiaomoshan nuclear power project in Hunan province
China Power Investment Corporation (CPIC) is one of the five largest state-owned power producers in China. With total assets of RMB 345.9 billion, it has 7 domestic and foreign listed subsidiaries engaged in development, investment, construction, operation and management of power plants and power generation in 27 provinces. The subsidiaries have control over 53.6 million kilowatts electricity generation. In China’s 11 operational reactors, CPIC has shares in 10 of them. In reactors under construction, CPIC has control over 7gw of power generation.

With its theme of providing green energy and services, CPIC is performing its social responsibility in reducing green house gas emission and saving energy. CPIC is engaged in Haiyang nuclear power plant (Shangdong province), Pengze nuclear power plant (Jiangxi province) and Xiaomoshan nuclear power plant (Hunan province).

Xiaomoshan nuclear power plant is finalized after 30 years of nuclear power plant site selection. Compared with other inland nuclear power plant sites, Xiaomoshan has advantages in geological structure, water resource, transportation condition and atmospheric dispersion condition. Heavy nuclear power components can be transported to the site through the Yangtze River. Xiaomoshan is considered to be ideal to support nuclear power plant.

Xiaomoshan nuclear power project gets support from China Development and Reform Commission, National Energy Administration, Ministry of Environmental Protection of the People’s Republic of China, National Nuclear Safety Administration and Hunan Municipal Government. CPIC regards Xiaomoshan nuclear power plant as its priority. Together with State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation and Wuling Electric Power Company, CPIC plans to fund Xiaomoshan nuclear power project with total RMB70 billion. Xiaomoshan is designed to support 4 reactors each with installed capacity of 1.25 gw. The Heimifeng pumped storage plant will be operational later this year. CPIC will quicken its step in Xiaomoshan nuclear power plant construction once Xiaomoshan nucler power plant is permit by National Nuclear Safety Administration.

Author
This article is composed by DING Zhong-zhi, Vice President of China Power Investment Corporation

Source:

This article was published on CHINA NUCLEAR POWER (No. 3 - 2009), in which the following articles are included

To strengthen the backbone of China’s nuclear industry-special interview with academician Li Guangxing     by Li Zhaoxu  Wei Guanggang
Speeding up the development of world third generation nuclear power technology        by Ding Zhongzhi
Study on ADS and the sustainable development of nuclear energy                  by Zhang zhixing, Xia Haihong
Controlled nuclear fusion and ITER project       by Feng kaiming
The evaluation method for nuclear island construction capacity of ENEC    by Zu Bin
Experiment and application of cement-based grout material in Tianwan NPP  by Qian Fu-hua, Wang Kaihua, Fang Hui-huang
Building the feedback system of project experience, and expediting the scientific development of nuclear power construction.  by Zhou Hai
Fault diagnosis of rolling bearing based on cyclic spectrum density.    by Shi Qingfeng   Zhang Yanhong, Yan Junming
Repair of evaporator of eyelet sealing face.   by Guo Hongyu
Learning Effect and Standardization Effect in NPP’s Construction   by Kang Yexi,  Xiao Dingsheng, Si Guojian
Design Management in the EPC of nuclear power project    by Li Jingyan
Application of pressurized gas storage and activated carbon sorption syatem in gaseous radioactive waste processing for NPPs.  by Chen Liang, Rao Zhongqun
Application research of cost construction on radioactive waste management.  byGao Yanfeng, Bi Sheng, Liu Zhen he
Exploring the new development approach of nuclear power insurance mode in China.  by Zhang Dong yan
Technical evolution of leading nuclear power reactor types in the world.  by Zhang Ruiping, Zhang xue, zhang lu qing

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