China is reportedly building the country's first floating nuclear plant, which would be able to go to different sites and anchor offshore to generate power. It is targeting to complete construction by 2020.

China General Nuclear (CGN) is expecting the small offshore modular to be used for different purposes. The reactor's construction is set to begin in 2017 and is targeted to start producing electricity three years afterward.

Like Us on Facebook

CGN revealed that the development of ACPR50S has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission. The project is a part of the country's strategy as listed in the 13th Five-Year Plan for innovative energy technologies. The Plan also includes building over 100 nuclear power plants over the next 10 years.

Pushing ahed with its ambitious plan, the Chinese government will allocate more than USD $100 billion to build seven reactors between now and 2030. It also targets to produce more than 350 GW nuclear power, build up to 400 nuclear reactors and generate an income of more than a trillion dollars by 2050. 

The small modular reactor reportedly has the capacity of up to 200 MW, enough to supply electricity to an island. It can also be used for other long-term projects such as seawater desalination as well as oil and gas exploitation.

This, however, is not the first of its kind. The US Navy owns about a hundred nuclear-powered ships. However, the Chinese small reactor is designed to supply power supply offshore and not onboard. 

Aside from the floating nuclear reactor, China is also testing other types of technologies to cater to the different needs of the nuclear market -- large light water reactors, fast reactors and molten salt reactors, to name a few.

Other than the ACPR50S, CGN is also working on a reactor designed for land called ACPR100. The small reactor can power a large-scale industrial park in remote mountainous areas.

This and other issues will be discussed at the Platts Nuclear Energy Conference on February 17 at Capital Hilton in Washington, DC. 

TagsEnergy, Nuclear Power Plant, Chinese General Nuclear, ACPR50S, small nodular reactor