China Environment News

China to convert old coal plants to nuclear power?

A Chinese state-owned energy infrastructure group has proposed a decarbonization plan that would increase the country’s use of nuclear power. The China Energy Engineering Group Co (CEEC) is studying ways to convert retiring coal-fired power facilities into nuclear power plants, according to recent research reports.

CEEC’s “Coal to Nuclear,” or C2N, strategy would enable new reactors to take advantage of the existing land, grid, and water access of those coal-fired plants, which would enable faster construction of new nuclear power generation resources.

According to the World Nuclear Association China has 58 operating reactors as of mid-2025, with another 33 under construction, and has been building new reactors faster than any other country. China has been approving as many as 11 new reactors annually in recent year, and is on track to pass the U.S. as the world’s leading nuclear power generator by 2030.

China has about 1.2 TW of coal-fired power generation capacity, with about 100 GW slated for retirement in the next five years. The South China Morning Post reports that “By repurposing coal plants’ established grid links, cooling systems and land, China hopes to cut costs, save time, and ease the challenge of finding suitable new sites for nuclear projects.”

Li Xiaoyu, senior engineer with China Power Engineering Consulting Group, said in July research report in China’s Southern Energy Construction, that “Given China’s vast coal-fired power capacity and the long construction timeline for nuclear plants, the C2N transition could span several decades.”

The researchers said the initiative would support fourth-generation reactors. The group said the newer technology would likely meet more-stringent safety requirements and help bring greater public acceptance, particularly in the coastal areas that are home to much of the country’s thermal energy infrastructure. The group noted a coal-to-nuclear strategy would support China’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2060.

Another research paper published in the same issue of Southern Energy Construction said advanced reactors such as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) could be a good option to replace coal-fired units. The research, from the East China Electric Power Design Institute, said HTGRs would need a smaller area of land for safety zones, and also would require less water than existing coal plants. The group said the parameters of HTGRs also would be easier to integrate into existing infrastructure, because the technology aligns more closely with existing coal plant steam systems.

The CEEC team in its report wrote, “Social factors have become one of the key influences on infrastructure development in China. Public acceptance of nuclear energy and concerns about its safety directly affect decision-making by governments and enterprises. Establishing transparent communication mechanisms and enhancing public engagement and education to improve societal acceptance of nuclear power would be crucial to C2N.”

The researchers in their report said a 600-MW HTGR could be placed at an existing coal plant with little need for more land. The group said the safety features of an HTGR, including the ability to mitigate a meltdown with active cooling, would mean emergency planning also could be streamlined.

China’s National Energy Administration in January 2024 announced commercial operation of an HTGR—the first Generation IV reactor in service worldwide—at Shidao Bay. That HTR-PM (high-temperature reactor with pebble med modules) uses helium as a coolant and graphite as a moderator. Officials said “the design employs heat-resistant ceramic-coated particle nuclear fuel elements, such as graphite-coated balls. It is deemed suitable for various applications, including power generation and high-temperature process heat.”

Thorium-based molten salt reactors also were mentioned as part of the C2N plan. China already operates the world’s first thorium-based molten salt reactor (TMSR-LF1) in the Gobi Desert, using molten salt as both fuel and coolant. That project features an experimental 2-MW reactor that began operating last year. China plans to commercially operate a 60-MW thorium-based reactor in the Gobi Desert by 2029.

Source: Power Magazine, Sep 15, 2025. https://www.powermag.com/chinese-officials-look-at…/