EVENTS

Abstract

Asian region has emerged as the epicentre of nuclear energy sector growth in the world. Estimates show that there are 139 operating nuclear power reactors and 39 reactors under construction. Among the Asian countries, China alone has 39 operating reactors, 18 reactors under construction, 39 in planned stage and another 179 reactors in the proposed stage. Once the currently planned and proposed reactors become operational, China will have the largest fleet of nuclear energy facilities in the world. As per the low carbon energy strategies of China, nuclear power continues to be an important component in its energy mix. The government’s interest to reduce dependency on conventional coal generation facilities and its interest towards cleaner fuels are driving greater policy attention to nuclear. This presentation will focus on three important points. First, it will highlight on the challenges and opportunities for China as it aims to enhance the share of nuclear power in its energy mix; second, the presentation will discuss the potential role of nuclear power in the long term low carbon energy mix in China and third, the cost of nuclear power in the Asian context.

About the Speakers

Dr. Nandakumar Janardhanan teaches in the Energy Studies Programme of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India. He specialises in energy and climate policy. The areas of his work include nuclear power, energy security and geopolitics, climate policy, low-carbon development and renewable energy. He has worked with several policy think tanks and research organizations of international repute. He has been associated with the Institute of Chinese Studies (India) as Adjunct Fellow since 2013. Dr. Janardhanan has co-edited the book on ‘Resurgence of Nuclear Power: Opportunities and Challenges for Asia’ published by Springer.

Dr. Vaibhav Chaturvedi is a Research Fellow with the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), New Delhi. He specialises on energy and climate issues. Vaibhav holds a Doctorate in Economics from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and has completed a Post-Doctoral work at the Joint Global Change Research Institute of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (USA). Dr. Chaturvedi contributed a Chapter on the ‘Cost of Nuclear Energy’ in the book ‘Resurgence of Nuclear Power: Opportunities and Challenges for Asia’ published by Springer.