China is 10 to 15 years ahead of the US in ability to deploy fourth-generation nuclear reactors at scale, says major US think-tank.
The US Information Technology & Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has published a report entitled “How Innovative Is China in Nuclear Power?” which says that China has become the world’s leading proponent of nuclear energy. The 32-page report notes: “Chinese firms are well ahead of their Western peers, supported by a whole-of-government strategy that provides extensive financing and systemic coordination.”
ITIF is a US non-profit public policy think tank based in Washington DC. It incorporates five specialised centres: The Center for Data Innovation; The Center for Clean Energy Innovation; The Schumpeter Project on Competition Policy; The Center for Life Sciences Innovation; and The Hamilton Center on Industrial Strategy. ITIF advocates for greater trade liberalisation and encourages Western governments to play proactive roles in spurring innovation and productivity.
The key points covered in the report are:
- China intends to build 150 new nuclear reactors between 2020 and 2035, with 27 currently under construction and the average construction timeline for each reactor about seven years, far faster than for most other nations.
- China has launched the world’s first fourth-generation nuclear reactor [HTR-PM], for which China asserts it developed some 90% of the technology.
- China is a leader in the development and launch of cost-competitive small modular reactors (SMRs).
- Analysts assess that China likely stands 10 to 15 years ahead of the US in its ability to deploy fourth-generation nuclear reactors at scale.
- China’s innovation strengths in nuclear power pertain especially to organisational, systemic, and incremental innovation. Many fourth-generation nuclear technologies have been known for years, but China’s state-backed approach excels at fielding them.
- Analysts assess that the US and China are likely at par in efforts to develop nuclear fusion technologies, but warn that China’s demonstrated ability to deploy fission reactors at scale gives it an advantage for when fusion comes online.
- With respect to nuclear energy, China ranks first in the H-index, a commonly used metric measuring the scholarly impact of journal publications.
- From 2008 to 2023, China’s share of all nuclear patents increased from 1.3% to 13.4%, and China leads in the number of nuclear fusion patent applications.
The report says: “From framing the economics of the sector, to coordinating ecosystem actors, to streamlining regulatory and permitting procedures to supporting R&D investments in the sector, China’s state guidance has been critical in driving China’s nuclear sector …. Indeed, China has benefited greatly from a coherent national strategy and whole-of-government approach to promoting nuclear energy.”
Source: Nuclear Engineering International, June 19, 2024. https://www.neimagazine.com/news/us-think-tank-reports-china-as-world-leader-in-nuclear-energy-innovation/