Exclusive Interview with CPPCC National Committee Member and China General Nuclear Power Group Party Committee Secretary Yang Changli: Hualong One 2.0 Version Accelerating Demonstration Project Implementation, Will Become the Primary Reactor Type Going Forward

The Daily Economic News reporters | Zhou Yifei Zhang Rui The Daily Economic News editors | Wen Duo

This year’s government work report explicitly mentions new energy systems and energy security. The previously released “14th Five-Year Plan” recommendations also clearly state the goal of continuously increasing the share of new energy supply, promoting the safe and orderly replacement of fossil fuels, focusing on building a new type of power system, and establishing a strong energy nation. The strategy emphasizes a diversified approach including wind, solar, water, and nuclear power, coordinating local consumption and external transmission, and promoting high-quality development of clean energy.

During this year’s National Two Sessions, focusing on topics such as energy strength and nuclear energy development, the Daily Economic News (NBD) interviewed Yang Changli, member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of China General Nuclear Power Group.

Yang Changli has been deeply involved in the nuclear industry for nearly 40 years and has profound insights into industry development. In the interview, he stated that as a clean, safe, and stable power source, nuclear power can serve as a base load in the power grid, playing a very important role. With the growth of electricity demand and higher requirements for power quality, nuclear power will play an increasingly significant role.

1

“Strong capacity for energy supply assurance”
is the core of building an energy powerhouse

NBD: This year’s government work report proposes formulating a construction plan for an energy powerhouse. The strategic goals and pathways for achieving this are highly focused. In your opinion, where should an energy powerhouse be strengthened? How can it become stronger?

Yang Changli: I believe the core of an energy powerhouse lies in demand assurance—that is, ensuring the capacity to supply energy needed for economic and social development and stable societal operation. This is the fundamental essence.

From the perspective of the power industry, I see the following characteristics:

First, safety. Especially in nuclear power, absolute safety and zero failures are essential to ensure reliable power supply.

Second, economy. The electricity we produce must be affordable for the public. We are actively working toward this goal. If electricity is unaffordable, supply assurance is meaningless.

Third, green. Power should be environmentally friendly, clean, and low-carbon. Green features are very important.

Fourth, independence and controllability. We must keep our energy “rice bowl” in our own hands, including technological independence, industrial autonomy, and resource control. I believe independence and controllability are particularly crucial features of an energy powerhouse.

NBD: How will China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) take responsibility in building an energy powerhouse?

Yang Changli: Of course, while grasping these main features, we also need to recognize some major challenges in China’s current energy development. First, the energy supply structure has shortcomings that need further optimization; second, regional disparities between the “source” and “sink” areas need to be addressed; third, the construction of the power system’s regulation capacity needs to be accelerated.

Therefore, during the 14th Five-Year Plan, CGN will focus on several key areas:

First, always adhere to green development. Based on China’s energy resource characteristics, we will pursue a green development path. In practice, this means vigorously developing wind, solar, water, and nuclear energy, promoting multi-energy complementarity and integrated development.

Second, firmly promote technological innovation. CGN will tackle more efficient power generation methods, more effective resource utilization, accelerate the deployment of Hualong One 2.0 demonstration projects, and plan for R&D of Hualong One 3.0. We will also push forward frontier technologies in advanced reactor types, advanced fuels, and new energy sectors to make energy supply safer, more economical, and more autonomous.

Additionally, we will accelerate digital transformation. The “AI+” initiative is being rolled out nationwide, and the integration of energy and digital technologies is an inevitable trend. We aim to build smart power plants, promote full-chain data connectivity in digital nuclear power, strengthen automation and intelligent technology applications, achieve smart construction and operation of nuclear plants, and explore new smart energy models to ensure various power sources can “stand up, adjust quickly, and stay stable” when needed. The core is to empower with data intelligence, improving operational efficiency and safety levels.

Image source: China General Nuclear Power Group

2

“During the 14th Five-Year Plan, nuclear energy’s advantages in the power structure will become even more prominent”

NBD: Some believe that building an energy powerhouse requires phasing out traditional energy sources. What is your view?

Yang Changli: The concept of energy is very broad. Currently, traditional energy cannot be completely replaced because each energy source has its advantages and characteristics. I believe that the proportion of new energy needs to be further increased, while traditional energy should also be upgraded and modernized; both aspects should be advanced simultaneously.

NBD: In the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, has the strategic positioning of nuclear energy in China’s energy development changed?

Yang Changli: In this new development stage, the advantages of nuclear energy in the power structure will become even more apparent.

These advantages include: first, it operates “around the clock” with high stability, high energy density, and high reliability, making it an ideal base load energy for new power systems; second, it is the cleanest and lowest-carbon among all power sources, with a lifecycle carbon footprint of only 6.5 grams per kWh, laying a solid foundation for carbon reduction across society; third, its applications are diverse—beyond power supply, it has broad prospects in clean heating, seawater desalination, hydrogen production, and other non-electric fields, providing low-carbon solutions for energy-intensive industries. As electricity demand grows and quality requirements increase, nuclear power will play an increasingly important role.

Currently, CGN operates 28 nuclear units and has 20 under construction, with a total installed capacity exceeding 56 million kilowatts.

Looking ahead to the 14th Five-Year Plan, we will focus on five key tasks:

1. Uphold safety as the bottom line, practicing the principle of “absolute safety, zero failures”;
2. Take responsibility for supply security, ensuring high-quality operation of the 28 operating units, advancing the construction of 20 units, enhancing the batch construction capacity of Hualong One, and diversifying uranium supply channels;
3. Persist in technological independence and self-reliance, continuously upgrading Hualong One, promoting innovation in advanced reactor types and fuels, exploring “AI + nuclear energy,” and developing new nuclear production capabilities;
4. Play a leading role in the industrial chain, promoting upstream and downstream coordination, and enhancing the autonomy and controllability of the industry chain;
5. Expand multi-application development, such as planning for nuclear-powered zero-carbon parks, solving AI computing energy consumption issues, and actively promoting coupling development of nuclear energy with traditional industries like steel, petrochemicals, and marine chemicals.

Image source: China General Nuclear Power Group

3

Existing plant site reserves are sufficient
to meet the nuclear power development needs during the 14th Five-Year Plan

NBD: You mentioned AI, and we note that CGN has been deepening AI technology applications in recent years. What notable achievements has the group made in AI applications over the past year?

Yang Changli: We have conducted a lot of exploratory work in this area. Artificial intelligence has broad prospects in the power industry, and we are actively promoting digital transformation of nuclear power plants.

For example, we are constructing 20 units, and the smart construction sites we are implementing have already achieved good results. We are also actively advancing the building of smart power plants, which will make plant management more intelligent and meet the flexible dispatching needs of the grid.

NBD: Can you imagine a future where many humanoid robots appear in nuclear power plants?

Yang Changli: I think such scenarios will occur, but not many robots. We advocate “unmanned” operations—staff work behind the scenes, with front-end operations unmanned.

Robots are widely used in nuclear power, but mostly in specific environments. In fact, we already have many robots working in specialized conditions.

NBD: Over the past four years, China has approved more than 10 nuclear units annually. You have previously suggested further increasing nuclear power development. Do you still hold this view?

Yang Changli: In future development, especially during the 14th Five-Year Plan, nuclear power should maintain a certain growth rate. “Safe, active, and orderly” remains the main theme, and we expect to develop about 10 units per year.

NBD: With the increase in approved units, will there be a shortage of plant site resources?

Yang Changli: There is no problem with site resources. The existing site reserves are sufficient to meet the development needs during the 14th Five-Year Plan. Currently, CGN has 20 units under construction, and I believe this growth rate will continue through the period.

NBD: Hualong One is China’s independently developed third-generation nuclear reactor technology. How is its current deployment, and what are the future plans?

Yang Changli: Hualong One is a very advanced third-generation nuclear technology and the most numerous main reactor type in China. During the 14th Five-Year Plan, Hualong One still has significant development space. We have developed Hualong One 2.0, which is safer, has a shorter construction cycle, and better economics. The key technologies and demonstration verification are complete, and we are accelerating the deployment of demonstration projects. Moving forward, Hualong One 2.0 will become the main reactor type. We are also developing Hualong One 3.0, aiming for higher safety, better economy, and suitability for mass construction.

NBD: What are your thoughts on small modular reactors?

Yang Changli: Small reactors differ fundamentally from large reactors in application scenarios. Large reactors are mainly for power generation, while small reactors are more suited for special scenarios like heating or other specific uses. Small reactors can only serve as a supplementary power source; their economic competitiveness with large reactors is currently limited.

NBD: The 14th Five-Year Plan recommends promoting hydrogen energy and nuclear fusion as new growth points. Given the good momentum of nuclear energy development, is there potential for integration with hydrogen energy?

Yang Changli: Converting nuclear energy into hydrogen has been proposed for a long time, and the industry is exploring it. High-temperature gas-cooled reactors in the fourth generation of nuclear power are capable of producing hydrogen, which shows potential. Currently, our research on hydrogen focuses more on converting renewable energy into green hydrogen, but there are many issues related to safety and economics. We are also paying attention to green ammonia and green methanol, which are part of the development directions in the 14th Five-Year Plan (draft). Direct storage, transportation, and production of hydrogen face technical and economic challenges, but converting to ammonia, methanol, or aviation fuel has significant development prospects. We are conducting related research and believe breakthroughs can be achieved during the 14th Five-Year Plan.

NBD: Regarding green development, what specific plans does CGN have during the 14th Five-Year Plan?

Yang Changli: I have already discussed many in the nuclear energy sector. In the new energy sector, CGN is focusing on regions rich in wind resources such as the Shage Desert and deep-sea areas, accelerating large-scale development and exploring new integrated development models. We are building demonstration projects like “desert governance + photovoltaic agriculture,” “marine ranch + offshore wind,” and “new energy + hydrogen ammonia alcohol.”

At the same time, we recognize that as the share of new energy increases, the demand for flexible regulation resources in the power system grows. CGN insists on maintaining a green development foundation, choosing to develop solar thermal power, which has both peak-shaving and energy storage functions, enabling continuous and stable power generation to support the new power system. Looking ahead, CGN will leverage the entire industrial chain of solar thermal energy, relying on innovation platforms like the Qinghai Solar Thermal Laboratory to accelerate technological iteration and cost reduction.

Reporter | Zhou Yifei Zhang Rui

Editor | Wen Duo

Visual | Chen Guanyu

Layout | Wen Duo

Overall Coordination | Yi Qijiang

End