Development and Prospect of Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology

The proposal of the "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" target has a profound impact on the future energy system development in China. As a stable and clean energy source, nuclear energy can play an important role in the energy system, with great application potential and demand in electricity generation, heating, hydrogen energy, and other fields. After more than 60 years of development, nuclear energy has established a complete industrial chain. Research and development have formed third-generation large-scale commercial pressurized water reactor nuclear power technology brands with completely independent intellectual property rights, such as “Hualong-1” and multi-purpose modular small reactors “Linglong-1” with international advanced level. Moreover, China actively explores fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy technologies, such as sodium-cooled fast reactors, ultra-high temperature gas-cooled reactors, and molten salt reactors, and continues to carry out research on nuclear fusion energy. However, China's nuclear energy development also faces some challenges, and advanced nuclear energy technologies are in urgent need of breakthrough. To address these challenges, a development strategy and path for advanced nuclear energy technologies have been put forward, including intelligent operation management of in-service nuclear power plants, batch deployment of third-generation nuclear power plants, research and development of inherent safety fast reactor technology, active research and development of ultra-high temperature gas-cooled reactors for high-efficiency hydrogen production, active exploration of small modular reactors for industrial heating and platform power supply, and domestic and international cooperation in developing critical advanced nuclear energy technologies. These six aspects provide specific research goals and directions for the development of China’s advanced nuclear energy technology.