摘要
Abstract
[Background]Reducing the proportion of coal power and increasing the share of nuclear power in the power system are key pathways to achieving the"dual carbon"goals as early as possible.Due to the similarity in energy conversion methods between coal-fired power plants and nuclear power plants,the international community has proposed the"coal-to-nuclear"(C2N)initiative in recent years.C2N not only helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and reuse the infrastructure of coal-fired power plants,but also provides a mutually beneficial opportunity for the nuclear power development sector and the regions where coal-fired power plants are located.It promotes sustainable economic growth and job creation.As a new approach to energy transition,C2N is expected to play a significant role in promoting the construction of future energy systems.[Progress]Currently,countries such as the United States and Poland are conducting research on the technical characteristics,implementation methods,and market potential of C2N.It is currently believed that there are three main types of technologies that can be used for C2N:directly replacing coal-fired boilers with nuclear reactors;constructing new nuclear power plants at or near coal-fired power plant sites;or selectively reusing some of the infrastructure of coal-fired power plants.These strategies can reduce the cost of nuclear power plants,promote the development of advanced nuclear energy systems(especially small modular reactors),maintain energy equity at the national and community levels,and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,thereby alleviating climate change.C2N is still in the conceptual stage,and there are no precedents worldwide for directly converting coal-fired power plants into nuclear power plants at the same site.The International Atomic Energy Agency has proposed repurposing fossil fuel power plant sites with small modular reactors.The U.S.Department of Energy has studied three major issues of C2N:the distribution of retired coal-fired power plants in the United States,the feasibility of C2N and its related economic and social impacts.The United States has initiated the Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear(GAIN)program to explore the feasibility of C2N.The GAIN initiative is a public-private partnership established by the U.S.Department of Energy and operates out of Idaho National Laboratory.It facilitates access to technical,regulatory,and financial support needed to accelerate the commercialization of advanced nuclear technologies.Poland has launched the DEsire project to assess the technical and economic potential of C2N,as well as public acceptability,and human resource preparedness.In addition,countries such as the United States and Romania have attempted to carry out engineering demonstrations at coal-fired power plant sites.South Korea and Indonesia are also showing strong interest in C2N.Given the limitations of land resources and natural conditions,C2N is one of the few viable options for energy transition in South Korea.Indonesia,on the other hand,aims to decarbonize its energy system by introducing nuclear power technologies.[Perspective]C2N involves complex technical challenges,substantial economic investments,and deep public concern about nuclear safety.Research conducted by the academic community in the field of C2N covers multiple dimensions,including potential scale,technical feasibility,and economic cost-effectiveness.However,as an entirely new research area,C2N still has many issues that warrant in-depth study.Key challenges include project timing and scheduling,plant site requirements and site remediation,regulation and certification,the establishment of emergency planning zones,and public acceptability.China's high-temperature gas-cooled reactors have high safety,and the high-temperature steam parameters provided by these reactors can meet the needs of most coal-fired power plants,making them very suitable for C2N applications.Although most coal-fired power plants in China are located inland and currently do not meet the legal conditions for C2N,there is still a considerable scale of coal-fired power plants(about 79 GW)existing in coastal regions.Therefore,China should promptly conduct a comprehensive technical assessment of C2N,including technical performance,economic cost,environmental impact,and public acceptance,to ensure that China reaches a world-leading level in this field.关键词
煤电改核电/小型堆/能源转型/煤电替代Key words
coal-to-nuclear/small modular reactor/energy transition/coal power replacement分类
能源科技
