The average nuclear power generating unit in operation worldwide has exceeded 28 years
Source: Huizhou Daily. Date: 2015-04-03.
At present, there are a total of 438 nuclear power plants in operation and 70 nuclear power plants under construction around the world. Nuclear power generation accounts for about 12% of the global total power generation. The world's nuclear power operation experience has exceeded 15,660 reactor years, and the average age of nuclear power generating units in operation exceeds "28 years old".
Mainland nuclear power operation for more than 20 years
A total of 22 nuclear power plants in mainland China are in operation with an installed capacity of 19.11 million kilowatts; 26 are under construction with an installed capacity of 28.6 million kilowatts. Nuclear power generation accounts for approximately 2% of the total power generation.
China's nuclear power in mainland China has been operating safely for more than 20 years, and has maintained an excellent record of safe operation. There have never been more than 2 nuclear incidents.
In addition, through continuous efforts in the world's nuclear energy field, the safety of nuclear power plants has been greatly improved. At present, the probability of a large-scale radioactive accident in the second-generation pressurized water reactor nuclear power plant in operation in China has dropped to about one in a million. However, the third-generation advanced pressurized water reactor nuclear power technology introduced by China ’s AP1000, due to the use of passive safety technology, has reduced the probability of large-scale radiological accidents to about one in 50 million.
Nuclear power is a clean, environmentally friendly and economical energy source
It is worth mentioning that nuclear power has the least impact on the environment. It can meet energy demand and at the same time be one of the effective solutions to curbing the growing problem of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Compared with the million-kilowatt thermal power plants and nuclear power plants that emit harmful substances into the atmosphere each year, thermal power plants emit about 6 million tons of carbon dioxide, about 58,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and about 38,000 tons of nitrogen oxides. Nuclear power has zero emissions. Therefore, nuclear power is a clean and environmentally friendly energy source.
In addition, from an economic perspective, although the initial investment in nuclear power is large, about 2.5 times that of coal power, after the nuclear power plant is put into operation, the fission energy released by the full fission of 1 kg of uranium is equivalent to about 2400 tons of coal or 2000 The energy released from the burning of tons of oil. A million kilowatt thermal power plant needs 3 million tons of standard coal a year, while a nuclear power plant only needs tens of tons of low-enriched uranium raw materials. Therefore, nuclear power is an economic energy source.