Home » nuclear power plants

Category Archives: nuclear power plants

Flag Counter

Flag Counter

Fusion as a Way for Limitless Energy Revolution in the World

October 2, 2024 / Leave a comment

Fusion Energy as a Solution to Carbon Emissions

Fusion energy has the potential to produce clean and sustainable energy by imitating the nuclear reactions that occur in the sun and release huge amounts of energy. Scientists and engineers around the world have been working for years to turn this potential into reality. Fusion energy can provide an unlimited source of energy and contribute greatly to the fight against climate change by reducing carbon emissions. China stands out as one of the leading countries in fusion energy thanks to its investments and technological developments in this field. Fusion Reaction, which means creating a kind of artificial sun, is actually very important and can easily meet all the energy needs of the world. It’s a special type of nuclear energy.

Importance of Fusion Energy

The most basic advantage of fusion energy is that it is environmentally friendly. Today, a large part of energy production is obtained by burning fossil fuels, and this process causes a large amount of carbon dioxide to be released into the atmosphere. The release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases accelerates global warming and climate change. However, fusion energy produces almost no greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels. In addition, the waste released during fusion reactions is much less hazardous than the waste from nuclear fission reactors. The waste produced by fusion is low radioactive and becomes safe in a relatively short time. This greatly reduces the need for waste management and long-term storage.

The second major advantage of fusion energy is that the fuel source is almost unlimited. The basic fuels used in fusion reactions are deuterium and tritium, especially the hydrogen isotopes. Deuterium is abundant in nature and can be easily obtained from seawater. Tritium can be produced from lithium. Since these two elements are abundant on Earth, the potential energy that can be obtained with fusion energy is many times greater than the current fossil fuel reserves. This means that humanity can find a permanent solution to its energy crises.

Another important advantage of fusion energy is its energy density. Fusion reactions produce a very large amount of energy per unit of fuel. This means that more energy can be obtained by using less fuel. In addition, fusion reactors allow large energy production facilities to be built in smaller areas thanks to their high energy density. This is a major advantage over current power plants that require large geographic areas to meet local energy demands.

The importance of fusion energy for the world is not limited to energy production. This technology can also play a critical role in combating climate change, ensuring energy security and economic growth. As an inexhaustible energy source, it can close the energy gap worldwide and reduce energy costs. It can also provide a cleaner and more sustainable future by eliminating environmental problems caused by fossil fuels.

Power Capacity of a Fusion Reactor

The question of how much energy a fusion reactor can produce depends on its design, size, and the technologies used. However, theoretically, a commercial-scale fusion reactor could produce a huge amount of energy and power cities of millions of people on its own. For example, the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) project, which has been proposed by many scientists, is designed to have the capacity to produce about 500 megawatts of electrical energy if it is successful. This amount of energy could power approximately 200,000 to 300,000 homes. A slightly larger 2 GW fusion reactor could easily meet the energy needs of a large metropolitan area. However, the real potential of fusion energy will be revealed in the future when the number of such reactors increases and they are equipped with more efficient technologies. Although fusion technology is not yet commercially available, research is ongoing and great progress is being made in this area. Projects like ITER are big steps towards making fusion energy commercially viable. As commercial fusion reactors become widespread, large cities and even countries will be able to be powered by this energy source.

China and Fusion Technology

China has managed to take the lead in fusion energy by establishing a strong infrastructure for fusion research in recent years. For example, the EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) reactor located in the eastern Anhui Province of China is one of the most advanced Tokamak fusion reactors in the world. In 2021, the EAST reactor managed to heat the plasma to 120 million degrees Celsius and maintain it at this temperature for 101 seconds. This is a significant milestone in fusion research and demonstrates China’s technological superiority in this field. Advanced technologies such as EAST contribute to China becoming a world leader in fusion energy research. China, which managed to keep the fusion reaction active for an even longer period in 2024, has passed an important milestone in this regard.

China has an approach that encourages international cooperation in fusion energy research. Chinese scientists actively participate in international research projects and promote knowledge sharing. In particular, joint projects are carried out with countries such as the European Union, the United States, Russia, India, Japan and South Korea. These collaborations facilitate China’s access to cutting-edge technologies and knowledge in fusion research, while also enabling it to develop its own research capacity.

China’s leadership in fusion energy research is of great importance both nationally and globally. Fusion energy, which has the potential to create positive impacts in many areas such as energy security, environmental sustainability, economic development, and scientific progress, is among China’s strategic priorities. The successful implementation of this technology could usher in a new era in energy production and consumption and fundamentally change global energy dynamics. China’s efforts in this field play an important role in the world’s future energy landscape. Therefore, its pioneering in both Fusion and Thorium reactors is an extraordinary revolution for China and is also very important for the world.

Giant Curtain in Energy Revolution: China Builds World’s First Thorium Reactor

September 5, 2024 / Leave a comment

Energy is one of the most important criteria in the world and we can say that it is the most important requirement of every function. Without energy, there can be no production, and it is not even possible to consume the produced materials and commodities. When we look at the old World Wars and even the Gulf War, we see that they were completely aimed at controlling energy deposits (oil). However, now that oil has decreased in the world, renewable energy and nuclear energy have come to the fore. The biggest problem in Nuclear Energy is that the Fission Reaction leaves radioactive residues and carries many dangers, and Uranium is found in limited quantities in the world and is the monopoly of certain states such as the USA. China, as the second largest economy in the world, is perhaps the most intensive producer in the world in terms of production, and energy is very important for the existence of the Chinese Economy. In this sense, China is working very intensively on energy studies and has made very serious progress by making the world’s first thorium reactor at this level and has opened a very important giant curtain in the energy revolution.

 

Why is Thorium Reactor Important?

Chinese Thorium ReactorThorium reactors are a type of nuclear reactor proposed as an alternative to traditional uranium-based nuclear reactors in energy production. These reactors use the naturally abundant thorium element, which is less radioactive than uranium. Thorium cannot be used directly as a nuclear fuel; however, it can be converted to uranium-233 by neutron bombardment in a nuclear reactor environment. The uranium-233 isotope produced in this process can then be used for energy production. One of the biggest advantages of thorium reactors is that they produce much less radioactive waste in the nuclear fuel cycle and that this waste is easier to manage in the long term. In addition, the abundance of thorium around the world provides a great advantage for such reactors in terms of energy supply security. China and Turkey have the world’s largest Thorium reserves.

China’s First Thorium Reactor: A Turning Point

China is making major investments in nuclear energy to meet its energy needs and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. As part of these efforts, China commissioned the world’s first thorium-based liquid salt reactor in 2021. This experimental reactor, built in Wuwei, Gansu Province, is designed to evaluate the potential of thorium in energy production and to become a world leader in thorium-based nuclear power generation. China’s thorium reactor has a thermal power generation capacity of approximately 2 megawatts and is initially planned to be used for testing technology and safety systems rather than for electricity generation. The reactor was successfully operated and its performance results were seen in 2024. China has plans to build larger and commercial thorium reactors by 2030. This will contribute to China’s energy independence and mark a turning point in the global transition to thorium-based nuclear energy.

China’s thorium reactor project could have a significant impact on energy policies and nuclear technology development strategies worldwide. Conventional nuclear power generation faces challenges such as security risks, radioactive waste management issues, and nuclear proliferation threats. Thorium reactors have the potential to solve many of these problems. First, the use of thorium results in less radioactive waste being produced and in a shorter half-life. This greatly simplifies radioactive waste management and reduces long-term storage requirements. Additionally, nuclear accidents are less likely in thorium reactors because the reactor design provides automatic shutdown in the event of an emergency.

China’s leadership in this area may encourage other countries to develop thorium reactors. Especially in a world where energy consumption is rapidly increasing and the environmental impacts of fossil fuels are increasingly causing concern, thorium-based nuclear energy stands out as a clean and sustainable energy source. In addition, thorium reactors minimize the production of plutonium that can be used for nuclear weapons production, which can contribute to nuclear disarmament efforts. China’s leadership in this area can determine the direction of global energy policies and technological developments and lead to the widespread use of thorium reactors. Therefore, China’s thorium reactor project is a critical development not only for China but for the entire world. In this way, energy can be produced with fewer radioactive reactors and, more importantly, there will be no dependence on the US for uranium.

Considering that many countries like Turkey and India also have huge Thorium Reserves, it is essential for them to cooperate with China and take part in this energy revolution. In fact, India thorium based nuclear reactor research is also progressing for a similar breakthrough.

Rosatom announced today that preparatory work for the construction of four new reactors has commenced

July 3, 2020 / Leave a comment

Rosenergoatom said the corresponding decision to construct the units was signed by Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachov following a meeting on the organisation of work on the construction of reactors in Russia for nuclear energy and the appointment of those responsible for the implementation of investment projects. It noted that the new units at Smolensk and Leningrad II are included in the general plan for the placement of electric power facilities until 2035, already approved by the Russian government. Likhachov noted that VVER-1200 and VVER-TOI reactors are being built not only in Russia, but also abroad. He said they use “the most advanced achievements and developments that meet all modern international safety requirements”.

For the new Smolensk II and Leningrad II units, Rosenergoatom will act as the technical contractor for both investment projects. Atomproekt JSC and Atomenergoproekt JSC will act as the chief designer of the Leningrad II and Smolensk II units, respectively.

By the end of this year, a project for the preparatory work will begin at the construction site for the new units 3 and 4 at Leningrad II. Temporary accommodation and an industrial base will be built at the construction site. Between 2020 and 2022, public hearings will be held on the substantiation of the licence and environmental impact assessment of the new units to obtain a construction licence.

Leningrad II will have four VVER-1200 units. Leningrad unit 1 was shut down for decommissioning on 21 December last year. Leningrad II unit 1 was connected to the grid on 9 March 2018, becoming the second VVER-1200 reactor to start up, following the launch in 2016 of Novovoronezh unit 6.

The new Smolensk II plant – featuring two VVER-TOI (typical optimised, with enhanced information) reactors with a total capacity of 2510 MWe – will be built 6 km from the existing Smolensk plant. The first VVER-TOI unit is under construction as part of the Kursk II nuclear power project. By the end of 2020, it is planned to develop and approve an action plan for the Smolensk II investment project and open financing for the implementation of measures in accordance with the plan. Smolensk II is to replace the three RBMK reactors at Smolensk I, which are expected to remain in operation until the new plant starts to come online.

Commenting on the construction of the four new units, Rosenergoatom General Director Andrei Petrov said: “The new power units will replace the units with RBMK-1000 reactors, whose service life will end in the next decade. According to preliminary estimates, the construction at two sites at once will create up to 15,000 new jobs, will provide regular tax revenues to regional and local budgets.”

Nuclear Energy Power Plants in the World

July 10, 2018 / Leave a comment

Nuclear power plants currently operate in 31 countries. Most are in Europe, North America, East Asia and South Asia. The United States is the largest producer of nuclear power, while France has the largest share of electricity generated by nuclear power. China has the fastest growing nuclear power program with 28 new reactors under construction,and a considerable number of new reactors are also being built in India, Russia and South Korea.

Of the 31 countries in which nuclear energy  power plants operate, only France, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belgium, and Hungary use them as the source for a majority of the country’s electricity supply. Other countries have significant amounts of nuclear power generation capacity. By far the largest nuclear electricity producers are the United States with 805 647 GWh of nuclear electricity in 2017, followed by France with 381 846 GWh.

Country

In operation

Under construction

Number

 Electr. net output
MW

Number

 Electr. net output
MW
Argentina

3

1.632

1

25
Armenia

1

375

–

–
Belarus
–
–

2

2.218
Belgium

7

5.913

–

–
Brazil

2

1.884

1

1.245
Bulgaria

2

1.926

–

–
Canada

19

13.524

–

–
China

36

31.402

20

20.500
Czech Republic

6

3.930

–

–
Finland

4

2.752

1

1.600
France

58

63.130

1

1.630
Germany

8

10.799

–

–
Hungary

4

1.889

–

–
India

22

6.225

5

2.990
Iran

1

915

–

–
Japan

43

40.290

2

2.650
Korea, Republic

25

23.133

3

4.020
Mexico

2

1.440

–

–
Netherlands

1

482

–

–
Pakistan

4

1.005

3

2.343
Romania

2

1.300

–

–
Russian Federation

36

26.557

7

5.468
Slovakian Republic

4

1.814

2

880
Slovenia

1

688

–

–
South Africa

2

1.860

–

–
Spain

7

7.121

–

–
Sweden

10

9.651

–

–
Switzerland

5

3.333

–

–
Taiwan, China

6

5.052

2

2.600
Ukraine

15

13.107

2

1.900
United Arab Emirates

–

–

4

5.380
United Kingdom

15

8.918

–

–
USA

99

98.868

4

4.468
Total

450

391.915

60

59.917