Connect with us

Published

2 years ago

on

Cranes stand at the construction site of the second phase of Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, invested by state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China Huaneng Group, on June 28, 2023 in Changjiang Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province of China.

China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images

China is the breakaway global leader in new nuclear construction.

China has 21 nuclear reactors under construction which will have a capacity for generating more than 21 gigawatts of electricity, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. That is two and a half times more nuclear reactors under construction than any other country.

India has the second largest nuclear buildout right now, with eight reactors under construction that will be able to generate more than six gigawatts of electricity. Third place Turkey has four nuclear reactors under construction with a presumed capacity of 4.5 gigawatts.

The United States currently has one nuclear reactor under construction, the fourth reactor at the Vogtle power plant in Georgia, which will be able to generate just over 1 gigawatt. (For the sake of comparison, a gigawatt is about enough to power a mid-sized city.)

“China is the de facto world leader in nuclear technology at the moment,” Jacopo Buongiorno, professor of nuclear science and engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, told CNBC.

China is “the determined and pacing leader in global nuclear ambition at the moment,” agrees  Kenneth Luongo, president and founder of the Partnership for Global Security, a nuclear and transnational security and energy policy non-profit. China is “leading, even racing ahead,” Luongo said.

It hasn’t always been that way.

The United States’ existing fleet of nuclear reactors is a testament to its prior dominance.

The United States has 93 nuclear reactors operating with capacity to generate more than 95 gigawatts of electricity, according to the IAEA That is more than any other country by far. Many of those reactors should be viable for some time to come, as nuclear reactors can be licensed to operate for 60 years and in some cases for as long as 80 years, the World Nuclear Association said in a recent report on the nuclear supply chain.

Exelon’s nuclear plant in Byron, Illinois on Sept. 7, 2021.

Chicago Tribune | Tribune News Service | Getty Images

The country with the next most operating nuclear reactors is France, with 56 and a capacity for generating more than 61 gigawatts, according to the IAEA. China comes in third with 55 operating reactors and capacity of over 53 gigawatts.

“It is generally agreed that the U.S. has lost its global dominance in nuclear energy. The trend began in the mid-1980s,” Luongo told CNBC.

China was just getting started as the United States nuclear industry began to take a back seat.

“China began building its first reactor in 1985, just as the U.S. nuclear build-out began a steep decline,” Luongo told CNBC.

How did China become the new nuclear leader?

Power follows demand, so the new nuclear reactors tend to be built where fast-developing economies need power to fuel their growth.

While more than 70 percent of existing nuclear capacity is located in countries that are part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, nearly 75 percent of the nuclear reactors currently under construction are in non-OECD countries, and half of those are in China, according to the World Nuclear Association’s recent supply chain report.

As China’s economy has grown, so too has its energy output. China’s total energy output reached 7,600 terawatt hours in 2020, a massive increase from 1,280 terawatt hours in 2000, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“The primary imperative is to meet what has been a staggering growth in demand over the past twenty years,” John F. Kotek, senior vice president of policy development and public affairs of the nuclear advocacy group, the Nuclear Energy Institute, told CNBC. “So they haven’t just been building a lot of nuclear, they’ve been building a lot of everything.”

Cranes stand at the construction site of the second phase of Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant, invested by state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China Huaneng Group, on June 28, 2023 in Changjiang Li Autonomous County, Hainan Province of China.

China News Service | China News Service | Getty Images

Currently, nuclear energy accounts for only 5 percent of the total amount of energy produced in the country, while coal still accounts for about two-thirds, according to the International Energy Agency.

But China’s use of coal to meet its surging demand for electricity has caused a secondary problem: dirty air. “With the huge growth in coal use, along with a dramatic increase in private vehicle ownership, has come a dire need for more clean electricity generation,” Kotek told CNBC.

Nuclear energy generation does not release any of the greenhouse gasses that contribute to air pollution and global warming, so China has turned to nuclear as a way to produce large quantities of clean energy fast.

“The Chinese have been pro-nuclear for a long time, but now they seem to have committed to a truly massive scale up to 150 gigawatts in 15 years. And they seem to be on track to meet that goal,” Buongiorno told CNBC.

“This will be the largest expansion of nuclear capacity in history, by far,” Buongiorno said.

China kickstarted its nuclear program by buying reactors from France, the United States and Russia, Luongo told CNBC, and built primary homegrown reactor, the Hualong, with cooperation with France.

One reason for China’s dominance is the government’s strong control over the energy sector, and most of the economy.

“They built a state-supported, financed industry that allows them to build multiple nuclear units at lower cost,” Luongo told CNBC. “They don’t have any secret sauce other than state financing, state supported supply chain, and a state commitment to build the technology.”

China’s focus on building nuclear energy has global climate benefits, but it also poses ge-political challenges.

“China’s prowess and commitment to nuclear is good for the technology, for China’s energy security, grid stability, economy and air pollution, as well as global climate change mitigation,” Buongiorno said. “If they start to export nuclear technology to other countries, the concern is the geo-political-economic dependence on China that such projects will create for those countries. The same logic applies to Russia.”

HUIZHOU, CHINA – FEBRUARY 19: Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant is pictured on February 19, 2023 in Huizhou, Guangdong Province of China. Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant is scheduled to be put into operation in 2025.

Vcg | Visual China Group | Getty Images

U.S. pinning its future on advanced nuclear tech

The United States could catch up and regain some of its former dominance in the nuclear space, experts say.

The United States and Europe have slowly started to build nuclear energy again with middling success.

“These countries restarted building nuclear plants only 10 to 15 years ago. The supply chain and specialized workforce had virtually disappeared, which has resulted in serious cost overruns and schedule delays,” Buongiorno said.

To wit, the two large new nuclear reactors at the Vogtle Plant in Georgia have become infamous for taking much longer than initially expected and blowing through early budget estimates.

Vogtle nuclear reactor 3

Source: Georgia Power

But the U.S. is making moves to regain its previous dominance in the nuclear space.

“The U.S. has reversed its political opposition to nuclear power at home. It now is a rare issue of bipartisan agreement,” Luongo told CNBC.

A recent survey from the Pew Research Center found support for nuclear energy is up among both Democrats and Republicans: 57 percent of Americans report favoring more nuclear reactors to generate electricity, up from 43 percent of Americans who favored nuclear reactors in 2020.

The U.S. is providing subsidies to keep some existing nuclear plants open, selling some large nuclear reactors to eastern Europe. But the country pinning much of its ambition on scaling up the market for small modular and advanced reactor technology and building the associated fuel enrichment capacity.

“The US may catch up if the new technologies being developed here — small modular reactors and microreactors above all — will prove to be technically and commercially successful, which is currently uncertain,” Buongiorno told CNBC.

Smaller nuclear reactors are less expensive because they are smaller, but also because the modular design allows for component parts to be made in a factory and put together on site. That process is faster and cheaper than building each reactor as a boutique one-off.

The NuScale small modular reactor and Westinghouse AP300 are scaled-down light-water reactors, which is the design most conventional nuclear reactors are using, while some other small modular reactor designs are “more exotically fueled and cooled,” Luongo said, like the TerraPower Natruim Reactor or the X-Energy high-temperature gas cooled reactors.

An artist rendering of the new Westinghouse AP300, a small modular reactor.

Artist rendering courtesy Westinghouse

“The U.S. government is pouring billions of dollars into their development and demonstration in the anticipation that they will work, be less expensive than large reactors, and provide the U.S. with a larger market for their export,” Luongo told CNBC. “We’ll see where we are by 2027 when Congress has mandated the demonstration phase. Delays and cost growth in some technologies are already popping up.”

In addition to being smaller and cheaper to build, small modular reactors are well suited for providing heat for industrial processes, Kotek of the Nuclear Energy Institute told CNBC.

Part of the United States’ attempting to re-ignite its nuclear industry is also its desire to be an exporter of nuclear reactor technology.

“The U.S. has decided that it is at a disadvantage in the nuclear export arena and is trying to reposition itself to be a major competitor in the next 15 years. This began with the Trump administration and Biden has amped it up,” Luongo told CNBC. Some of this export business will be large nuclear reactors, like those being sold to Eastern Europe, but “a significant part of this strategy is small modular and advanced reactors,” Luongo said.

Here, again, the U.S. is up against China.

“China rightly views nuclear energy as a strategic industry. They know that nuclear energy exports help build long-term relationships with partner countries. So they have invested heavily in their domestic nuclear energy capabilities and are now seeking to export their reactor designs to other nations,” Kotek told CNBC. China and Russia both offer “very attractive financing” and other kinds of incentives to spread their nuclear industry aboard, Kotek said.

For the United States to win the export business, it must prove it can put steel in the ground in the United States.

“The U.S. is widely recognized to offer world-leading nuclear energy technology, but having great designs on paper is not enough – most other nations want to see that technology demonstrated before they will consider building it in their country,” Kotek told CNBC. “So the U.S. would be wise to incentivize an accelerated build-out of next-generation nuclear energy systems here at home, so that we’re in a position to take proven designs into the global marketplace and take back our position as the world’s top nuclear energy exporter.”

Jockeying for the top spot in the international nuclear industry is going to get more intense as demand for clean energy continues to climb.

“We and our close nuclear energy allies are at what I think is just the start of a fierce competition for supremacy in global nuclear energy export markets,” Kotek said.

How nuclear power is changing

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Environment

Kia’s EV9 can power your home and save you on energy costs: Watch how easy it is [Video]

Published

5 hours ago

on

March 6, 2025

By

Kia's EV9 can power your home and save you on energy costs: Watch how easy it is [Video]

Kia-EV9-power-home-charger

The Kia EV9 is already an impressive electric SUV with its bold design, spacious cabin, and smart technology. Now it’s unlocking another new feature. With the new Wallbox Quasar 2 home charger, Kia EV9 owners can power their homes for up to three days and even save on energy costs. Watch how easy it is to use in the demo below.

Kia EV9 can now power your home with V2H

Wallbox opened orders for its new bi-directional charger, the Quasar 2, for Kia EV9 owners this week. The Quasar 2 is the first home charger that works with the electric SUV to unlock its Vehicle-to-Home (V2H) capabilities.

EV9 owners can use their vehicle as a power source during power outages. You’ll need the Quasar 2 charger and Wallbox Power Recovery Unit, which can provide backup power for up to three days.

The Quasar 2 starts at $6,440, including the Power Recovery Unit, not including taxes and installation fees. EV9 owners can sign up for the waitlist here with a $100 deposit.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Pre-orders will initially be limited to residents of California, Texas, Florida, New York, Washington, New Jersey, and Illinois, but the company plans a nationwide rollout. Once the units are available, pre-order customers will have first access, with shipping to follow soon after.

Kia-EV9-power-home-charger
Kia EV9 GT-Line (Source: Kia)

According to Wallbox, the Quasar 2 and Power Recovery Unit can save you up to $1,500 per year on energy costs.

As an all-in-one solution, the unit enables you to charge your EV with solar energy (solar panels are sold separately) and store it in your vehicle’s battery. During peak hours, you can use the energy to power your home to save on energy costs. With pre-set scheduling, you can also automatically charge your EV9 when the rates are the lowest.

Kia EV9 uses the Wallbox Quasar 2 to charge home devices (Source: Wallbox)

All of this can be easily utilized on the Wallbox App, allowing you to switch between grid/solar to vehicle and vehicle-to-home.

To demonstrate how easy it is to use, Wallbox put together a video showing the Kia EV9 using the Quasar to power several home devices.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Honda’s new S7 electric SUV is surprisingly stylish and affordable, but you can’t have it

Published

6 hours ago

on

March 6, 2025

By

Honda's new S7 electric SUV is surprisingly stylish and affordable, but you can't have it

Honda-S7-electric-SUV

Honda officially launched its new electric SUV, the S7, in China. As its first high-end electric SUV, Honda says the S7 will set new benchmarks with over 400 miles (650 km) of driving range, first-class comfort, and a stylish new design. The S7 will compete with the Tesla Model Y and other premium electric SUVs in China, starting at about $36,000.

Meet the Honda S7 electric SUV

Honda’s joint venture in China, Dongfeng-Honda claimed “the surge is about to break out” after teasing the S7’s new styling last month. On Thursday, the company officially launched its new electric SUV.

The S7 will be key to Honda’s comeback in the world’s largest EV market. Honda’s new electric SUV is now available starting at 259,900 yuan (about $36,000).

In terms of size, at 4,750 mm long, 1,930 mm wide, and 1,625 mm tall, the S7 is about the same size as the Tesla Model Y (4,797 mm long, 1,920 mm wide, 1,624 mm tall).

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Honda designed the SUV from the ground up for buyers in China, claiming it offers better driving, more fun, and more style. The electric SUV wears Honda’s new “H Mark,” exclusive for its next-gen EV lineup. Other design elements include a light-up H logo up front, a foot-sensing electric tailgate, and retractable door handles.

Honda-S7-electric-SUV
Honda S7 electric SUV (Source: Dongfeng-Honda)

Inside, the S7 is Honda’s first with a dimming panoramic sunroof. With a 2,930 mm wheelbase, it has a spacious interior with up to 860 mm of second-row legroom.

Several premium features include a 3-spoke multi-function leather steering wheel, streaming media rearview mirror, a fragrance system, and BOSE sound system.

Honda-S7-electric-SUV-interior
Honda-S7-electric-SUV-interior

Loaded with the latest software and connectivity tech, the S7 has “Honda’s most powerful smart cockpit” with split 12.8″ and 10.25″ smart infotainment screen and 9.9″ instrument display.

Honda Connect 4.0 provides an AI Voice Assistant, multi-screen linking, and continuous improvement with AI. Meanwhile, Honda Sensing 360+ includes ADAS features like active cruise control, pre-collision warning, lane keeping assist, parking assist, and a 360-degree panoramic imaging system.

It’s available in both single-motor (RWD) and dual-motor (AWD) options. The RWD variant includes a 268 hp (200 kW) electric motor and an 89.8 kWh NMC battery pack, good for a 650 km (404 miles) CLTC range.

With an added front motor, the AWD S7 packs up to 469 hp (350 kW) and is rated with 620 km (385 miles) CLTC driving range.

In comparison, the new Tesla Model Y RWD first edition starts at 263,500 yuan ($36,200), with a CLTC range of up to 593 km (368 miles). The Long-Range AWD model, with a CLTC range of up to 719 km (447 miles), starts at 303,500 yuan ($42,000).

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Segway’s new flagship Ninebot MAX G3 opens for preorder at $500 off, Jackery Spring Sale takes 50% off units, Samsung, more

Published

8 hours ago

on

March 6, 2025

By

Segway's new flagship Ninebot MAX G3 opens for preorder at 0 off, Jackery Spring Sale takes 50% off units, Samsung, more

Leading today’s Green Deals is the $500 off pre-sale promotion on Segway’s new Ninebot MAX G3 eKickScooter that comes with a bunch of upgraded features like Apple Find My, autonomous locking/unlocking, and more – all at $900 through March 24. We also have Jackery’s Spring Sale in full swing with 50% off discounts on its power stations and solar generators (and bonus savings), one of which is the Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station bundled with two 200W solar panels at a new $1,994 low. Lastly, we have Samsung’s Bespoke AI Laundry Combo All-in-One Washer and Ventless Heat Pump Dryer coming with a bunch of additional savings at $2,199. Plus, all the other hangover Green Deals are in the links at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s Anker SOLIX weekend flash sale offers, the Lectric XPedition 1.0 and XPeak 1.0 price cuts, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

Segway’s new flagship Ninebot MAX G3 eKickScooter opens for preorder at $900

Segway has launched its pre-sale promotion on its new Ninebot MAX G3 eKickScooter at $899.99 shipped through March 24. Carrying a normal price tag of $1,400, this is the very first chance to grab some cash savings on this all-new model before it officially releases on March 25. You’ll be getting a 36% markdown while this promotion continues, saving you $500 off the going rate and setting the bar for future discounts down the road. Head below to learn more about this new e-scooter and its features.

Segway’s Ninebot Max G3 e-scooter arrives as the latest version of its flagship eKickScooter lineup, sporting an 800W motor that peaks at 2,000W to provide increased top speeds of 28 MPH while also tackling up to 30% inclines. With its Boost Mode activated, you’ll even have acceleration up to 15.5 MPH in just 2.4 seconds. The 597Wh battery delivers a travel range up to 50 miles on a single 3.5-hour charge, courtesy of its built-in fast charger, with the timeframe dropped to 2.5 hours after connecting a DC charger cable simultaneously.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

There’s a bunch of upgraded features on Segway’s Ninebot MAX G3, like the Stability Enhancement System for improved handling, disturbance resistance and slip resistance – even at high speeds. There’s also the inclusion of Apple Find My through its companion app to detect and find your scooter whenever needed, as well as extra security in the form of autonomous locking and unlocking via Bluetooth, with the distance it does so being adjustable to your preferences. You’ll also find it coming with dual suspension, 11-inch self-sealing tires, an automatic 6W headlight, an underglow lighting system, and a 2.4-inch smart TFT display that offers the usual at-a-glance riding data alongside navigation, caller ID and smart charge management.

You can also browse through Segway’s current sale offers while the savings are still around, which has the Apple Find My-capable Ninebot E2 Pro eKickScooter down at $500, among others.

Jackery Spring Sale power stations

Jackery Spring Sale drops Explorer 3000 Pro solar generator with two 200W panels to new $1,994 low

We’re almost out of winter, which means Jackery has launched a Spring Sale through March 12 with up to 50% taken off a selection of power stations, solar generator bundles, and accessories – plus, there’s even an extra 5% in savings too. One notable inclusion that is hitting the best rate we’ve seen to date, is the Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power Station that comes bundled with two 200W solar panels for $1,994.05 shipped, after using the promo code EXTRA5 at checkout. This package would normally cost $3,999, with discounts usually keeping things between $2,199 and $2,799, though we’re seeing it start at $2,099 here, which gets all the better with the extra savings. Having gone as low as $1,999 during Black Friday, today’s deal pushes that rate aside while saving you $2,005 – landing things at a new all-time low and beating out Amazon’s current pricing by a huge margin.

A great option for folks who want one of the more versatile (and larger) power stations for camping, home backup, and RV support, Jackery’s Explorer 3000 Pro provides a solid 3,024Wh capacity for starters. It can dish out plenty of juice for your devices and appliances, with its output reaching 3,000W normally while surging upwards to 6,000W. Among its 10 port options, you’ll find an RV-dedicated TT30 port, making this one of the brand’s best models for motor home living. Recharging its own battery takes just 2.4 hours when plugged into a standard outlet, or you can hook up its full 1,200W of solar input to hit 100% in three to four hours (time increased for the included 400W input here). There’s also the third option of connecting it to your car, which will get it back to full in about 35 hours.

***Note: The extra 5% off coupon has not been factored into the prices below – be sure to use the code EXTRA5 at checkout for the maximum savings!

Deals for your home backup needs:

Deals for your garden & DIY work:

Deals for your short travel needs:

Accessory deals:

You can browse the entire lineup of Jackery’s Spring Sale on the landing page here through March 12.

Samsung Bespoke AI Laundry Combo washer and dryer

Samsung’s Bespoke all-in-one AI Laundry Combo with bonus $100 credit is down at $2,199 ($3,622 value)

As part of the Discover Samsung sale that is running through March 9, you can score the brand’s Bespoke AI Laundry Combo All-in-One 5.3 cubic-foot Washer and Ventless Heat Pump Dryer at $2,199 shipped, with bonus savings (more below). This 2-in-1 unit normally fetches $3,324 at full price, which we’ve seen go as low as $1,899 direct from Samsung during Black Friday and $1,700 from Best Buy (though this rate hasn’t reappeared since). You’re looking at the fourth-lowest price overall and the third-lowest we’ve tracked direct from the brand, also coming along with a $100 credit for future purchases during this sale. You can also save a bit more by going with the open-box option in excellent condition on the same page for $1,759. While Best Buy is currently offering it at a $1 higher price, those of you with a Total Membership will also be benefitting from an additional $100 discount when purchasing from the outlet.

Before I go into the washer/dryer itself, I wanted to just point out some of the other bonus savings options. First off, there is the usual free installation (normally $25) alongside the three-year Samsung Care+ plan for just $1 (normally $199). Second, you can get up to $500 off in instant credits by trading in a phone or tablet. Lastly, you can exclusive savings if you are a teacher, first responder, government official, or part of the military (check drop-down menu on the page.

Samsung’s Bespoke AI Laundry Combo comes ENERGY STAR-certified with AI supporting you through settings management and also increasing its energy efficiency by identifying and adjusting settings based on the different fabrics you place inside and how soiled they are. The AI also pairs with the dual-inverter heat pump, calculating and estimating your electricity costs to “reduce energy usage by up to 19%.” There’s also the ventless design, which allows you to place it virtually anywhere, no longer needing to be next to a dedicate exhaust vent.

The detergent tank here sports a much larger capacity, holding up to 47 loads worth of detergent so you don’t have to regularly worry about filling and refilling in between laundry loads – plus, it also has a Flex One compartment that takes that convenience to the next level as it can be split between 25 loads of detergent and 34 loads of softener. It’s also been given self-cleaning and self-drying tech to keep laundry coming out fresh, smart controls via the SmartThings app (as well as hands-free voice controls), the EPA’s seal of approval, and much more.

You can check out all that the Discover Samsung sale is offering – including daily deals – on the main landing page here.

Best New Year EV deals!

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Trending