China Nuclear Power | Chinese Nuclear Energy

• Mainland China has 14 nuclear power reactors in operation, more than 25 under construction, and more about to start construction soon. 
• Additional reactors are planned, including some of the world's most advanced, to give a five- or six-fold increase in nuclear capacity to at least 60 GWe by 2020, then 200 GWe by 2030, and 400 GWe by 2050. 
• China is rapidly becoming self-sufficient in reactor design and construction, as well as other aspects of the fuel cycle. 

Most of mainland China's electricity is produced from fossil fuels (80% from coal, 2% from oil, 1% from gas in 2006) and hydropower (15%). Two large hydro projects are recent additions: Three Gorges of 18.2 GWe and Yellow River of 15.8 GWe. Rapid growth in demand has given rise to power shortages, and the reliance on fossil fuels has led to much air pollution. The economic loss due to pollution is put by the World Bank at almost 6% of GDP.¹ 

Domestic electricity production in 2009 was 3643 billion kWh, 6.0% higher than the 3450 billion kWh in 2008, which was 5.8% more than in 2007 (3260 billion kWh).^a. Installed generating capacity had grown by the end of 2010 to 962 GWe, up 10.1% on the previous year's 874 GWe, which was 10.2% above the 2008 figure of 793 GWe ². Capacity growth is expected to slow, reaching about 1600 GWe in 2020, and 2000 GWe in 2025.

Electricity consumption in 2011 rose 11.7% to 4693 billion kWh, according to National Energy Bureau. In 2010 it increased 14.56% to 4190 billion kWh, according to the China Electricity Council, corresponding with a 10% growth in GDP. Some 3090 billion kWh of this was in industry. Installed generating capacity increased 10.06% to 962 GWe in 2010 and by a further 90.0 GWe in 2011. At the end of 2010, fossil fuelled capacity (mostly coal) reached 707 GWe, hydro capacity was 213 GWe (up 16.6 GWe in the year), nuclear capacity was 10.8 GWe and wind capacity reached 31 GWe. Investment in electricity dropped to CNY 705 billion ($107 billion) for the year.