China completes core module of world's first commercial onshore small modular reactor - Interesting Engineering
China completes core module of world's first commercial onshore small modular reactor
China completes core module of world's first commercial onshore small modular reactorThe project is expected to be completed by 2026 and could help meet multiple energy demands.Ameya Paleja| Jul 17, 2023 06:48 AM ESTCreated: Jul 17, 2023 06:48 AM ESTinnovationStock image of a nuclear reactoralexey_ds/iStock Stay ahead of your peers in technology and engineering - The BlueprintBy subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Policies You may unsubscribe at any time.China has completed a significant step toward establishing the world's first commercial onshore small modular reactor. It has finished the installation of the core module of the reactor that it began building in 2021, the South China Morning Post reported. With a power generation capacity of not more than 300 MW, small modular reactors (SMR) are believed to be the future of nuclear fission reactors. The advanced nuclear reactor design allows the power plant to be scaled down and established in remote locations that cannot be connected to the grid. The technology is also considered a critical component of plans to move away from carbon-emitting fossil fuels. The promise of carbon-free power generation from nuclear plants has attracted the likes of Bill Gates and Warren Buffett to this industry, who are also building a plant in Wyoming by the end of the decade. See Also Related China’s mysterious space nuclear reactor allegedly can power 10 International Space Stations 'Green light' given for first thorium molten salt nuclear reactor in China China's planned 'nuclear island' is taking shape with the installation of its first reactor China takes the leadInteresting Engineering has previously reported how China is leading the world in constructing nuclear power plants and currently has 24 units in the works. While these are large-scale projects, the country is also making headway in the modular nuclear reactor sector with its Linglong One SMR. In 2016, Linglong One became the world's first SMR to pass the safety review from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which also stated that the reactor design could deal with extreme environmental conditions and multiple failures, the SCMP report said. More than 70 SMR designs are being developed for commercial scale worldwide. However, Linglong One, whose construction began on the southern island of Hainan in 2021, is on its way to becoming the world's first onshore commercial SMR. Stock image of a nuclear power plantRelaxFoto.de/iStock Linglong OneThe nuclear reactor has achieved a significant milestone in its construction by completing its core module. Built by China First Heavy Industries, the core module is the most critical part of the reactor and has been built using technology developed in China. Once completed, the reactor will produce one billion kilowatt hours of electricity annually to power 526,000 households. In addition to providing carbon-free energy, the reactor will provide additional benefits such as urban heating and cooling, steam production, and seawater desalination. This is expected to fresh water in areas where conventional reactors are not feasible. The technology has potential offshore applications in disputed areas like the South China Sea. The country is also looking at deploying SMRs on small islands with relatively smaller populations of a few thousand people, where they will also be able to serve as a freshwater source. The technology could also be exported to countries that are part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and China's neighbors in Asia, such as the Philippines and Indonesia, with multiple islands in their geography. Russia has also built a floating nuclear power plant - the Akademik Lomonosov. The plant has been operational since May 2020. HomeInnovationAdd Interesting Engineering to your Google News feed.Add Interesting Engineering to your Google News feed.SHOW COMMENT (1) For You Astronomers find exoplanet twice the mass of Jupiter hiding in plain sightToyota's solid-state battery breakthrough will reduce costs and size by 50 percentNewly built camera captures images of a photon 400-times better than ever beforeDoes hot weather lead to increased violence? These researchers found a connectionJames Webb Space Telescope observes massive kilonova explosion for first timeIn a world-first, an undeclared type of ice loss in the Arctic has been measuredThe genuine article?This flood protection barrier reaches new heightsTiny but mighty: YouTuber turns wizard with PCB motorsJapanese researchers find a simple and affordable way to store hydrogen Job Board
Related Knowledge Center: ENERGY BASICS: nuclear
Nuclear energy provides almost 20 percent of the U.S. electricity supply. Advocates have called for an expanded role for nuclear as an emissions-free fuel source. But the economics of building new reactors are daunting. In addition, lingering safety concerns are an institutionalized part of the calculation of nuclear regulation, and highly radioactive nuclear waste remains a can that public officials have been inclined to kick down the road. The Energy Information Administration projects a sharp decline in nuclear power generation over the next decade, as new nuclear plants — two are planned — are more than offset by anticipated retirements of several operating reactors.