World Energy Outlook 2007

China is pursuing a dual objective in nuclear technology: a) to adopt a
standardised technology for long-term nuclear development and b) to develop
a home-based technology, so that China becomes self-sufficient in reactor
design and construction, as well as other aspects of the fuel cycle. To achieve
this, extensive reliance has been placed on technological transfers from leading
nuclear technology developers/owners and the accumulation of experience
through construction and operation of different reactor designs. China has so
far adopted French, Russian and indigenous pressurised water reactors, as well
as Canadian pressurised heavy water reactors. The reactor units currently under
construction belong to the more advanced Generation II technology. China is
currently planning to adopt Generation III technology for the next round of
nuclear construction. In December 2006, the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor
design was selected for four units to be installed in the Sanmen project in
Zheijiang province and the Haiyang project in Shangdong province.
Construction is to start in 2009 and the first unit is expected to be operational
towards the end of 2013, with subsequent units planned to start up at
six-month intervals thereafter.
Box 10.4: Carbon Capture and Storage in China
As there is no commercial large scale power plant today equipped with
carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, this option is not
considered in the Reference or Alternative Policy Scenario. However, the
450 Stabilisation Case (Chapter 5) demonstrates that quick deployment
and future development of CCS is needed for a truly sustainable energy
future. To achieve the objectives of the 450 Stabilisation Case, China would
also need to deploy CCS widely.
China sees CCS as a future technological option for greenhouse-gas
emissions abatement and is willing to join international efforts for its
development. International co-operation programmes have been initiated
with APEC, Canada, the European Union, the United Kingdom, the
United States and others (Torrens, 2007). CCS appears in China’s 11 th Five-
Year Plan under the National High Technologies Programme and in the
National Medium- and Long-Term Science and Technology Plan Towards
2020. Early opportunities for CCS implementation in China have been
documented in an IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme report (IEA
GHG, 2002). Twelve such projects would together reduce annual CO 2
emissions by 15 Mt. A summary of the prospects for CO 2
storage is
presented by Li et al. (2005). Storage estimates vary widely, from 150 Gt to
2 000 Gt. Current experimental projects include:
10
Chapter 10 - Reference Scenario Supply Projections 347