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

In this year’s government work report, the new energy system and energy security are explicitly mentioned. 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 reliable substitution of fossil fuels, focusing on building a new power system, and developing a strong energy nation. The strategy emphasizes a diversified approach including wind, solar, water, and nuclear power, coordinating local consumption and external transmission, to promote high-quality development of clean energy.

During this year’s National Two Sessions, focusing on topics such as building an energy powerhouse and nuclear energy development, NBD (National Business Daily) 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 its development. He stated in the interview that as a clean, safe, and stable power source, nuclear energy 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 to ensure energy supply”
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 several key features:

First, safety. Especially in nuclear power, absolute safety and zero risk 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 CGN (China General Nuclear) take responsibility in building an energy powerhouse?

Yang Changli: Of course, while focusing on these main features, we also recognize some major challenges in China’s current energy development. First, the supply structure has shortcomings that need further optimization; second, regional disparities between the “source” and “sink” ends need to be addressed; third, the capacity of the power system to regulate 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 demonstration of Hualong One 2.0, and plan for R&D of Hualong One 3.0. We will also push forward frontier technologies in advanced reactor types, 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 digital interconnection in 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 digital intelligence, improving operational efficiency and safety levels.

Image source: China General Nuclear Power Group

2

During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period,
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 sources cannot be completely replaced because each has its advantages and characteristics. I believe that the proportion of new energy needs to be further increased, while traditional energy sources should also be upgraded and modernized; both aspects need to advance 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 evident.

These advantages include: first, it operates “around the clock” with 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 generation, it has broad prospects in clean heating, seawater desalination, hydrogen production, and other non-electric fields, providing low-carbon solutions for high-energy-consuming 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 kW.

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 risk”;
2. Take responsibility for supply security, ensuring high-quality operation of the 28 operating units and advancing the construction of the 20 units under development, enhancing the mass production capacity of Hualong One, and securing uranium supplies through multiple 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 coordinated development, and enhancing the autonomy and controllability of the industrial chain;
5. Expand diverse applications, such as planning for nuclear energy to power 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. We note that CGN has been deepening AI technology applications in recent years. What notable achievements has the group made in AI over the past year?

Yang Changli: We have conducted a lot of exploratory work in this area. AI 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 in the background, with front-end operations being 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, orderly, and proactive” 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. 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 during the period.

NBD: Hualong One is China’s independently developed third-generation nuclear reactor technology. How is its current application, 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 economic performance. Its key technologies and demonstration verification are complete, and we are accelerating the demonstration project deployment. In the future, 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 deployment.

NBD: What are your thoughts on small modular reactors?

Yang Changli: Small reactors differ fundamentally from large reactors. Large reactors are mainly for power generation, while small reactors are more suitable for special scenarios, such as 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 development momentum of nuclear energy, 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 directions outlined 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: As I mentioned earlier, in the nuclear field, we are focusing on safety and innovation. In the renewable energy sector, CGN is accelerating large-scale development in resource-rich areas like the deserts and deep-sea regions, exploring integrated development models such as “desert governance + photovoltaic agriculture,” “marine ranch + offshore wind,” and “renewables + hydrogen ammonia alcohol” demonstration projects.

We also recognize that as the share of renewables increases, the demand for flexible regulation resources in the power system grows. CGN remains committed to green development, choosing to develop solar thermal power, which can provide both peak regulation and energy storage, ensuring continuous and stable power generation to support the new power system. Looking ahead, CGN will leverage the entire solar thermal industry chain, relying on innovation platforms like the Qinghai Solar Thermal Laboratory to accelerate technological iteration, cost reduction, and efficiency improvements.