China to trial use of nuclear energy for district heat supply

China will build its first demonstration project for the utilization of nuclear energy to power district heat supply in north China, in a collaboration between China General Nuclear Power Group and Tsinghua University.

Diagram of China's first demonstration project utilizing nuclear energy to generate heat for residential buildings and for industrial purposes in north China. [Photo: thepaper.cn]

The project, reported by thepaper.cn on Wednesday, will use a low temperature NHR200-II reactor to generate heat for residential buildings and for industrial purposes.

According to Shu Guogang, vice general manager of China General Nuclear Power Group, the low temperature NHR200-II reactor is a mature design that received safety certification from China's National Nuclear Safety Administration in the 1990s.

The demonstration project has received approval from the National Energy Administration.

Currently, coal is the main source of energy for heating in north China, although in recent years there has been an increase in the use of natural gas, diesel oil, and electricity. The increase in energy use that accompanies the arrival of freezing winter temperatures is a major cause of smog in the region.

According to Chang Heyu, President of China General Nuclear Power Group, this demonstration project will significantly accelerate the reduction of emissions generated by the burning of coal for urban heating.