China to increase its Nuclear Power: Plans to build 6 to 8 reactors/year

On July 9, 2020, the China Nuclear Energy Association announced that it is to increase the country’s nuclear power to 200 GW by 2035.

Highlights

China is to achieve the target by installing 6 to 8 nuclear reactors a year between 2020-25. This will increase China’s nuclear potential to 70 GW. This is 43.5% more as compared to that of current nuclear potential of China.

China will reach 52 GW of nuclear power by the end of 2020. However, its target was 58 GW by the end of the year.

China’s Nuclear Power

China has around 45 nuclear power reactors as of April 2020. Of this, 12 are under construction. The energy of China predominantly comes from coal. As of 2019, 69% of energy needs of China were fulfilled from coal-fired power plants. Wind and Solar based power plants contribute 21% of China’s energy demands.

India’s Nuclear Power

India currently produces 6.7 GW of nuclear power. There are 22 nuclear power reactors installed in India. Out of this, 18 are pressurized heavy water reactors and 4 are light water reactors.

Light water is normal water and heavy water is deuterium-based water. Deuterium is hydrogen atom.

Month: Current Affairs - July, 2020