Nuclear power in China has for a long time now been accorded significant attention due to the potential it has in the generation of alternative sources of energy. Previously, the country had a high reliance on coal power occupying around 70% of the total energy production. According to World Nuclear Association, 6% of the country’s energy was produced from hydroelectric energy while 1% was produced from nuclear power with the renewable energy sources also occupying 1 percent. However, due to the carbon emission from the use of coal as the primary source of energy, the country has been considering and expanding the production of nuclear power which does not emit carbon that is detrimental to the environment. This paper will, therefore, highlight
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Based on these recorded estimates, the electrical demand is growing rapidly in China explaining why the country has been at the forefront in pioneering the generation of nuclear energy. Besides, the environmental effects associated with the currently leading energy source, coal, are also the precursors for the emphasis on nuclear power. Also, the country’s economic growth can be linked directly to the production and consumption of energy and as such, energy strategists have been of the opinion that sufficient production of nuclear power can be helpful in mitigating environmental effects caused by coal energy and promoting the country’s economic growth (Nakato, 5). The strategist’s opinions are in this case based on the energy economic theories, which hold that the rates of energy consumption and energy efficiency are linked causally to economic growth. One such theory is the endogenous growth theory that explicitly holds that economic growth is basically the result of internal forces and not external forces. Further, this theory posits that investment in innovation and knowledge besides human capital is significant to economic growth. Based on the concepts of this theory, economic agents such as the Chinese government and Nuclear power plants …show more content…
It is estimated that even with the country’s projections to increase nuclear energy capacity to 58GWe by 2020, this capacity will not be in a position to cater for the country’s overall energy demand (World Nuclear Association). By the government’s projections, therefore, the nuclear power plants will only be able to generate only 9.7 percent of the country 's power that is by far insufficient to be the sole energy producer. However, the increase in nuclear power generation will substantially reduce the country 's energy-related emissions of gases by about 5 percent (World Nuclear Association). It is, therefore, arguable that China is rapidly racing to capitalize on nuclear energy so as to match the rising demand for electricity and replace the heavily polluting coal power plants. So far, the country’s mainland has 30 nuclear power reactors in operation, 21 under construction, and more advanced reactors are planned for to increase nuclear capacity to at least 58 GWe by 2020, and around 150 GWe by 2030 (World Nuclear Association). The nuclear power plants are in essence power stations that generate electricity using heat from nuclear reactions that take place within a reactor. In each power plant, particular machines are used to remove heat from the reactors to operate a steam turbine to produce electricity.
Based on these recorded estimates, the electrical demand is growing rapidly in China explaining why the country has been at the forefront in pioneering the generation of nuclear energy. Besides, the environmental effects associated with the currently leading energy source, coal, are also the precursors for the emphasis on nuclear power. Also, the country’s economic growth can be linked directly to the production and consumption of energy and as such, energy strategists have been of the opinion that sufficient production of nuclear power can be helpful in mitigating environmental effects caused by coal energy and promoting the country’s economic growth (Nakato, 5). The strategist’s opinions are in this case based on the energy economic theories, which hold that the rates of energy consumption and energy efficiency are linked causally to economic growth. One such theory is the endogenous growth theory that explicitly holds that economic growth is basically the result of internal forces and not external forces. Further, this theory posits that investment in innovation and knowledge besides human capital is significant to economic growth. Based on the concepts of this theory, economic agents such as the Chinese government and Nuclear power plants …show more content…
It is estimated that even with the country’s projections to increase nuclear energy capacity to 58GWe by 2020, this capacity will not be in a position to cater for the country’s overall energy demand (World Nuclear Association). By the government’s projections, therefore, the nuclear power plants will only be able to generate only 9.7 percent of the country 's power that is by far insufficient to be the sole energy producer. However, the increase in nuclear power generation will substantially reduce the country 's energy-related emissions of gases by about 5 percent (World Nuclear Association). It is, therefore, arguable that China is rapidly racing to capitalize on nuclear energy so as to match the rising demand for electricity and replace the heavily polluting coal power plants. So far, the country’s mainland has 30 nuclear power reactors in operation, 21 under construction, and more advanced reactors are planned for to increase nuclear capacity to at least 58 GWe by 2020, and around 150 GWe by 2030 (World Nuclear Association). The nuclear power plants are in essence power stations that generate electricity using heat from nuclear reactions that take place within a reactor. In each power plant, particular machines are used to remove heat from the reactors to operate a steam turbine to produce electricity.