Nuclear has an essential role in the energy transition as a clean firm complement to renewables. Power system decarbonization modelling, regardless of level of renewables deployment, shows the US will need at least ~700–900 GW of additional clean firm capacity to reach net-zero; nuclear could deliver this at scale.
This 2024 study, published in Energies and led by Bixiong Luo et al., evaluates the economic feasibility of repowering existing coal-fired power plants with high-temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs) — a promising approach within the coal-to-nuclear (C2N) transition.
Large generation state-owned enterprises (SOEs), both central and local, play a critical role in China’s coal power transition, given their ownership and operational control over the majority of the country’s coal power fleet. Recent years have witnessed a growing trend among these entities to diversify into renewable energy.
China faces urgent challenges from climate change and aims to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Coal-fired power dominates today’s energy mix, but nuclear energy is a key low-carbon solution offering stable, full-load power without the intermittency of renewables.
Authors: Jakub Ochmann, Henryk Łukowicz, Sebastian Lepszy, Łukasz Bartela This paper examines the feasibility of repowering the Kozienice coal-fired power plant in Poland through the Coal-to-Nuclear (CtN) pathway, with a particular focus on the availability of cooling water resources. The study explores how existing coal power infrastructure could be partially reused for the deployment of…
The study models site‑specific portfolios for repurposing North Carolina coal plants and quantifies regional economic impacts using IMPLAN, incorporating IRA tax credits and interconnection‑reuse discounts.
Clean energy technologies such as solar, wind and hydropower are gaining traction but what impact have recent world events had on their uptake, and are we yet at the point of a structural decline in coal demand?
This DOE information guide distils the 2022 Stakeholder Guidebook into a community‑friendly reference on coal‑to‑nuclear (C2N) transitions, covering economic impacts, workforce pathways, and policy and funding tools.
Repower Initiative is focused on delivering tangible alternatives to coal fired power plants in Asia and across the globe. With philanthropic funding from HSBC, the Repower Initiative is undertaking research to explore the feasibility of repowering in Asia, including identifying potential sites for conversion.
Baroness Bryony Worthington (Founder of the Repower Initiative) has a podcast called 'Cleaning Up'. In this episode she interviews Dr. Staffan Qvist and Dr. Yaoli Zhang. They discuss how half of China's enormous economy is powered by coal, and what routes they have to decarbonisation.
Just 15% (317 GW)of the current global operating coal capacity has a commitment to retire in line with the Paris Agreement. Phasing out operating coal power by 2040 would require an average of 126 GW of retirements per year for the next 17 years, the equivalent of about two coal plants per week.
The report assesses the potential impact and market size of ETES technologies, identifies regulatory and policy gaps, and outlines necessary enablers to achieve this tipping point. Additionally, action plans for several countries are provided to guide policymakers and grid operators in scaling up ETES deployment.
