China, the world's biggest energy consumer, will cut its 2020 target for nuclear power capacity and build more solar farms following Japan's atomic crisis, said an official at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

Ren Dongming, the head of the economic planner's renewable energy development, said at a Beijing conference today (Mar. 31) that the country will reduce its nuclear capacity goal of 80 gigawatts without giving a new target for the reduction. The goal for solar-power capacity will increase from the current target of 20 gigawatts, he said.

Also, Shi Lishan, deputy director of the renewable energy department of the National Energy Administration (NEA) said yesterday (Mar. 30) that China is seriously considering increasing its five year target for the PV industry capacity from 5 gigawatts (GW) to 10 GW, according to the state-run news agency Xinhua. The revision is reported to be very likely to be approved although it is still under discussion.

On March 16, China's government decided to halt new approvals of nuclear projects following the crisis at Japan's Fukushima nuclear plant.

David Lennox, an analyst at Fat Prophets in Sydney, however, said "we can see delays in some projects, but in the longer term, I don't see how they can change the program they have in place without facing drastic power shortages...It's difficult to see what their alternatives to nuclear are," according to Bloomberg.

Many countries are reviewing their nuclear development following the radiation leaks from the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi power station. NDRC Vice Chairman Xie Zhenhua said yesterday that China won't alter its atomic energy plans, even as the Cabinet had stopped approving new nuclear plants, pending safety checks.

Nevertheless, the crisis in Japan will encourage "healthy development" of the Chinese nuclear industry in the long term as the Fukushima accident will prompt China to take additional safety measures, Cao Peixi, chairman of Huaneng Power International Inc (902), said at a media briefing in Hong Kong today.

China's biggest electricity producer won't alter its nuclear plans because of Japan, Cao said. China, which is building more reactors than any other, currently has at least 14 atomic units in operation, according to data from the World Nuclear Association. The world's fastest- growing major economy is constructing at least 27 reactors and has 50 more planned, according to the association. The country started operating its first commercial nuclear plant in 1994.

Public health worries escalated in China in the week following the Fukushima accident, with shoppers madly clearing shelves of salt, perceived as a defense against radiation exposure. China has since released the daily results of its nationwide radiation checks to allay concern.

China's Ministry of Environmental Protection and National Nuclear Safety Administration may start a nationwide inspection of nuclear plants that may last for several months, the 21st Century Business Herald said March 25, citing Yu Jun, a deputy head of the ministry's department of nuclear safety management.

China aims to increase its share of renewable sources, including nuclear and solar power, in its energy mix to 11% over the next five years from 8%, data from the National Energy Administration showed.

References:

Ren Dongming 任東明

Xie Zhenhua 解振華

Shi Lishan 史立山