Abstract
In recent years, China has experienced rapid growth in its nuclear energy industry to meet surging energy demand. It now possesses the capability to independently design and construct third-generation nuclear reactors. China is set to become the world’s largest nuclear power plant market in the future, challenging the United States’ position as a global nuclear power leader. Nuclear power generation plays three major roles in China’s energy security planning and economic development strategy: First, the development of nuclear power can enhance energy supply security, as it provides large amounts of “baseload power” and requires minimal imports of technology and fuel. Second, the nuclear industry is relatively clean in terms of carbon dioxide emissions and air pollution, especially compared to China’s current reliance on coal-fired power generation. As installed capacity expands, nuclear power can play an increasingly significant role in reducing China’s carbon emissions. Third, over the past 40 years, the successful “domestication” of nuclear technology has become part of China’s industrial strategy, reducing dependence on foreign energy and technology. Due to President Xi Jinping’s commitment at the 75th UN General Assembly at the end of 2020 to achieve “peak carbon dioxide emissions” by 2030 and “carbon neutrality” by 2060, this paper aims to analyze the impact and challenges that the “dual-control policy for carbon emissions” will have on the development of China’s nuclear energy industry.