French media: China's nuclear technology leads the United States by 10 to 15 years.
Another obvious reason for the U.S. turning to nuclear energy is China's leading position. The decree signed by Trump summarized the issue with a few numbers: since 1978, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has only approved five new reactors, of which only two have actually been built. By contrast, between 1954 and 1978, the U.S. had approved the deployment of 135 civilian nuclear reactors! The decline of this industry has allowed competitors like China to take the lead on the international stage: since 2017, 87% of the nuclear reactors installed globally have used Russian or Chinese technology. The Trump administration clearly understands that with its technological control, China can establish connections with numerous countries and greatly enhance its influence.
"It is estimated that China is ten to fifteen years ahead of the U.S. in the field of nuclear energy." Stephen Ezell, vice president of the Washington Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), said. Western countries have largely contributed to the rise of China's expertise through massive technology transfers. Between 2008 and 2018, Westinghouse Electric Corporation of the United States signed several agreements with China, allowing it to use the patents of the AP1000 reactor.
The article then quoted Dominique Gréanesh, a French nuclear physics doctor and member of the French Nuclear Heritage and Climate Association (PNC-France): "China's current reactors also draw on technologies from France, Canada, and Russia." A former engineer at Électricité de France (EDF) bitterly remarked: "We taught them, but they surpassed us." China can now deliver a reactor within four years, while the Flamanville EPR project in France took seventeen years due to its first attempt. Moreover, China's cost is only two-thirds to half of that in the West. More surprisingly, China's latest "Hualong One" reactor is entirely made up of domestically produced components.
"They successfully optimized and simplified the model while maintaining good safety levels. Additionally, they benefited from the famous economies of scale, thereby reducing costs." Dominique Gréanesh explained. This advantage will not become apparent in France until the fifth EPR2 project, where experts at Électricité de France (EDF) calculated. In China, this advantage has already been fully utilized because the government plans to build 150 nuclear power units between 2020 and 2035! Stephen Ezell pointed out: "Therefore, China's nuclear energy cost is approximately $70 per megawatt-hour, compared to $105 in the U.S. and $160 in the EU."
So far, this competitive gap has not been significant because China prioritizes its domestic market. Apart from a few contracts signed with Argentina and Pakistan, China does not seem eager to promote its international business. However, the situation is changing. Stephen Ezell, an American expert at ITIF, continued: "China is ambitious in exports." Beijing's goal is to sell 30 nuclear reactors to its "Belt and Road" partner countries, a grand project aimed at connecting China with Europe economically through extensive road and railway networks. These contracts could bring China nearly $150 billion in revenue before 2030.
The head of China's energy management department has already taken pride in this breakthrough and noted that selling a nuclear power plant abroad is equivalent to exporting 1 million Volkswagen Santanas, a model that entered the Chinese market in the 1980s. To secure a place in the global market, China has implemented a scholarship program to train hundreds of engineers in multiple partner countries. Of course, these engineers are all experts in "Hualong" technology.
Source: Express News
Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1833908727782412/
Disclaimer: The article solely represents the author's viewpoint.