1. Nuclear energy development in the world
The role of nuclear energy
Nuclear power plays an important role in ensuring energy security and addressing global climate challenges. Nuclear power is the second largest source of low-emission electricity after hydropower, producing about 20% more wind power and up to 70% more solar power. In addition, nuclear power is also used to provide heat for industry, heating and salt quenching systems in some countries.
Since 1971, thanks to nuclear energy, the world has avoided emitting about 72 billion tons of CO2 due to the need not to build more coal, oil or gas power plants. This also helps many countries reduce their dependence on fossil fuel imports.
Nuclear power is playing an important role in the global energy network with the ability to provide stable basic electricity, contributing to reducing carbon emissions. Currently, this industry generates 2,602 TWh per year, accounting for about 9% of global electricity output.
In the context of climate change and international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, the role of nuclear power becomes even more urgent. This energy source currently helps the world avoid about 1.6 gigaton of CO2 emissions per year. To limit global warming to 1.5°C, nuclear capacity needs to trip, to 1,160 GW, by 2050, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Without nuclear power, achieving climate goals could cost an additional $1.6 trillion.
Current status of development
The majority of the reactors are now in developed economies, accounting for more than 70% of the total global. However, these ovens have an average age of over 36 years - double that of ovens in emerging economies (18 years). France led the world in the proportion of nuclear power in the electrical structure, reaching 65%, followed by Slovakia with more than 60%. In the European Union, this rate has decreased from the peak of 34% in 1997 to 23%. In the US - the country has the highest number of reactors - the ratio of nuclear electricity is only below 20%.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) up to 1.1.2025, the world has 411 reactors operating with a total capacity of 371 GW, in 32 countries. Emerging economies are gradually taking over the leading position in the nuclear energy industry. Among the reactors started in 2017, 48 ovens were designed by China or Russia. By the end of 2024, 63 reactors (equivalent to 71 GW) are being built in 13 countries, of which three quarters belong to emerging economies - half of them in China, the country currently ranked third in the world in terms of the number of reactors being operating.
At the COP28 Conference in December 2023, more than 20 countries pledged to trip nuclear power capacity by 2050, equivalent to an additional 740 GW compared to the current level of 371 GW.
Future trends and growth demand
According to the IEA Electricity Report 2024, global electricity demand is expected to increase rapidly in the 2024-2026 period, with an average rate of 3.4%/year - higher than the 2.2% increase in 2023. About 85% of this increase will come from emerging economies such as China, India and Southeast Asian countries.
The IEA stressed that the electricity industry is the largest source of CO2 emissions today. Therefore, the development of renewable energy and nuclear energy together is a positive signal to help meet the increased demand for electricity while still controlling emissions. In its updated net zero emissions roadmap (NZE) in 2023, the IEA has raised its nuclear power development target with the expected capacity doubling to 916 GW by 2050.
2. Nuclear power and nuclear power plant technology
Nuclear power is the form of energy released from the nuclear element. Atoms include protons and notons. Energy released from nuclear reactions can be created using two main methods:
Nuclear classification: Separate a heavy nuclear such as uranium-235 (U-235), plutonium-239 ( Pu-239) or uranium-233(U-233) thanks to thorium-232 (Th-232) into two smaller pieces, usually intolerant nuclear or radioactive, releasing energy with the release of secondary notons. The notrons detonated the next fuel cell and created a chain reaction.
Nuclear synthesis (extraction): Combining two light atoms into a heavier nuclear, accompanied by the release of energy without creating radioactive products. The thermogenic reactor (also known as Tokamak) is being developed using a mixture of deuterium and tritium - synods of hydrogen atoms with Notron-based atoms.
Abundant and accessible nhietildil fuel: deuterium can be extracted at low cost from seawater, and tritium is likely produced from the reaction of notrones that create nhietildil with lithium available naturally. The product after the synthesis is helium, so future thermal reactors will not generate radioactive nuclear waste. The synthetic reaction occurs in a state of very high temperature matter called plasma, so the nhietild process is difficult to be activated and maintained, so there is no risk of uncontrolled and melting reactions; for example, in the event of an accident or a system failure, plasma will end up on its own, losing energy very quickly and turn off before the reactor is damaged.
Currently, nuclear power production mainly relies on the phanking process. Meanwhile, thermals are still in the research and development phase. It is important to note that heat is the same as phan waste that does not emit CO2 or other greenhouse gases, so it could be a low-carbon power source expected to be produced annually in the second half of this century.
The operating mechanism of the nuclear reactor
In the phantion reaction, the nuclear of the uranium-235 nuclear atoms, when absorbed by a neutron, will break down into two smaller atoms (commonly known as phantion fragments), and release 2-3 notons and a large amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. Newly generated notrones continue to cause phanks in other atoms, creating a chain phanks reaction. The reaction speed and power are controlled by a control system such as bars or solutions containing notron absorbers.
The heat generated from the reactor is transferred to a refrigerant or heat loader (usually water), then the hot water converts to steam to rotate the turbine, thereby generating electricity.
The fission product produced in the reactor is mainly radioactive nuclei. This is what the public is concerned and also the weakness of nuclear energy. However, the fuel island replacement cycle of the reactors, such as Rosatom's VVE-1200 furnace (Russia) is about 1.5 to 2 years with the number of fuel bundles replaced by only about one third of the total of 163 bundles of fuel. The used fuel is kept in the fuel tank inside the factory for a few years to decades depending on the design of the tank. After that, it can be transferred to natural ventilation storage, usually on the spot, right in the factory area.
A 1,000 MWe nuclear power plant produces about 27 tons of unused (unrecycled) nuclear fuel per year. Of which, low-activity radioactive waste (LLW, active value of about 1%) accounts for 90% of the volume, medium-activity waste (ILW, active 4%) accounts for 7% of the volume, high-activity waste (HLW, active 95%) accounts for only 3% of the volume.
Nuclear power plant technology
Countries with many reactors in operation include the US (94 reactors - 96.95 GW), France (56 reactors - 61.37 GW), China (56 reactors - 54.15 GW), Russia (36 reactors - 26.8 GW), South Korea (26 reactors - 25.82 GW). Of these, the majority (~400 furnaces) use water as a heat loader, with a capacity ranging from 30 to 1660 MW. Water cooling reactors (including heavy water) are mainly of three types:
PWR - accounting for about 70% of total global furnaces
- Use water as a heat Loader and notron slowing.
- The design includes two circulation rings: the primary heat conduction ring from the reactor and the secondary ring creating turbine rotation.
- The water in the primary round is kept at high pressure to avoid boiling.
- Control bars move from top to bottom.
- Countries using many PWR furnaces: US, France, Japan, Russia, China, Korea and many other countries.
Boiling water reactors (BWR) - account for about 15%
- There is only one circulation, in which the boiling water is directly in the furnace and the steam is brought directly to the turbine.
- A simpler design of pipeline structure but a more complex reactor body because it contains both steam treatment and circulating pumps.
- Control bars move from the bottom up thanks to hydraulic pumps.
- Water in the water can be contaminated with radiation, so the turbine system needs to cover the radiation barrier.
- Mainly built in the US, Japan, and Sweden.
High-pressure water reactors (PHWR) - account for about 11%
- Use heavy water (D2O) as a heat loader and slowener.
- capable of being fueled while operating, increasing flexibility.
- Uranum can be used naturally, without the need for enrichment like light water kilns.
- However, it creates a larger amount of radioactive waste.
-popular in Canada, India. Currently operating in China, Korea, Romania.
3. Challenges and prospects of new technology
In addition to water-using designs, there are currently studies to develop generation IV reactors using liquid metal, hot salt or high-term gas as heat loads, to increase factory efficiency and improve safety. Some types of waterless furnaces have been successfully tested for many years, mainly on a research scale.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) also noted growing interest in small modular reactors (SMR). Although this technology is still in its early stages and faces many challenges, research and development activities are making significant progress, attracting the attention of many countries, including Vietnam.
In early 2024, the European Commission officially classified nuclear energy as a green energy source, giving the industry access to finance and support policies within the framework of sustainable development.
3. Current status of energy sources in Vietnam
As of November 2024, the total installed capacity of Vietnam's power system reached about 87,750 MW. The specific power source structure is as follows:
Coal-fired thermal power: 29,539 MW (33.8%)
Hydropower: 24,420 MW (27.5%)
Solar power (including rooftop): 16,919 MW (19.4%)
Gas turbines: 8,109 MW (9.3%)
Wind power: 6,114 MW (nearly 7%)
Other sources (petropower, PV, imported PV): 2,649 MW (3%)
Load growth and energy demand
The maximum load of the power system in 2024 will reach 48,879 MW, an increase of 7.4% over the previous year. Over the past 10 years, the average electricity load growth rate has been 8.5%/year.
According to the Power Plan VIII, demand is forecast to reach 90.5 GW by 2030 and increase to 208.6 GW by 2050.
The Prime Minister once emphasized that every 1% of GDP growth leads to an increase in electricity demand of 1.5%. With a growth target of 7 - 8% in 2024, 2025 and higher in the following years, electricity demand will need to increase by at least 10% or higher.
Developing renewable energy
The national target by 2030 is that renewable energy accounts for 15 20% of the total primary energy supply. By 2050, this rate will reach 25 30% (according to Resolution No. 55-NQ/TW dated February 11, 2020).
We have achieved some achievements such as having 113 solar and wind power projects with a total capacity of more than 5,700 MW in 2020. Of which, solar power with 48 projects recognized as commercial operation (COD) with a total capacity of 8,652.9 MW - the highest in Southeast Asia. Wind power increased from 540 MW (20 2020) to approximately 4,000 MW (2021), putting Vietnam in 2nd place in the region in terms of renewable energy development speed.
By 2024, the total capacity from renewable energy and medium and large hydropower plants will reach 43,126 MW, accounting for 55.2% of the total electricity capacity of the country. However, renewable energy accounts for only 9% of the total primary energy supply, while coal still accounts for 51% (in 2020).
There are also many difficulties and challenges that need to be identified and gradually overcome, such as:
- The power infrastructure is still weak, the power grid has not met the requirements of large-scale renewable energy projects, causing high investment costs and limiting the ability to integrate into the system.
- The ability to store electricity is still limited, the instability of solar power and wind power is still a big challenge.
- Lack of new support policies, especially after Decision 39/2018 expired, the preferential electricity purchase price mechanism for wind and solar power no longer exists.
Future orientation
Promoting the development of nuclear power and renewable energy is a focus to realize the Green Growth Strategy, achieving the target of renewable energy accounting for 67.571.5% in the Power Plan VIII by 2050, towards a sustainable, stable and low-emission energy system.
4. The role of nuclear power in Vietnam
Nuclear power is considered one of the strategic solutions to support the energy transition process, especially in greenhouse gas emission reduction scenarios. In the context of Vietnam's commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, nuclear energy has the potential to become an important part of the national power source structure.
According to the net zero emission scenario (Net Zero) and the VIII power plan, nuclear energy is expected to provide electricity from 2030-2035 with a capacity of about 4 - 6.4 GW and can add 8 GW by 2050 to provide a source of base electricity and can increase according to demand. While the demand for electricity increases sharply due to industrialization and modernization as well as the great demand of spearhead industries such as semiconductor manufacturing, building large databases, artificial intelligence, the role of nuclear power becomes even more necessary.
The development of nuclear power is necessary to:
- Diversify and stabilize the power system in the context of highly volatile renewable energy.
- Support running the rear loads, stabilizing the national grid.
- Ensuring long-term energy security.
- Contributing to Vietnam's goal of net zero emissions by 2050.
Nuclear energy is capable of integrating with continuous renewable energy sources such as wind and sun with load regime and is a backup power source; Most modern lightweight nuclear reactors are likely (by design) operating in the load mode, that is, changing the power level one or twice daily in the range from 100% to 50% (or even lower) rated power, or can increase power up to an increase rate of up to 5% (or even higher) of the rated capacity in short time (hourly). It should be very good to maintain the stability of the electrical system.
If there are many reactors built and operated, fuel costs are not high, then the cost of power generation will be completely competitive with other power sources.
The return of the nuclear power development viewpoint in the Party's major policies, specifically the 8th Party Central Committee, opens up a new direction for the national energy strategy. Accordingly, by 2050, nuclear power along with hydropower and coal will become a source of underlying load, operating stably and ensuring system safety, supplementing renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power - which depend on natural factors and are highly volatile.
Nuclear power not only helps reduce dependence on fossil fuels but also contributes significantly to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, helping to improve and develop science and technology. This is one of the main driving forces behind the return and interest of countries in nuclear power.
According to Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung: "Nucclear power has become a national strategy, a green power source and a foundation". According to global trends, nuclear power is considered a pillar to help us be autonomous in energy supply, ensure carbon neutrality and affirm our position as a national science and technology. After the Fukushima incidents, modern nuclear power plants today have achieved high safety, high operating efficiency and stability.
5. Conclusion
With the restart of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project and the inclusion of nuclear power in the VIII power plan is not only a strategic decision on national energy security but also contributes to the transition to a sustainable green economy, bringing the country's science and technology development to new heights.
Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo on breakthrough development of science and technology, innovation innovation and transformation of national numbers has been strongly implemented by the Party, Government and localities. The resolution sets strategic goals to create breakthroughs in research and application of technology, innovation and digital conversion; Promote education and training of high quality human resources, especially in the fields of advanced science and technology, including nuclear energy. The amended atomic energy law is being considered by the National Assembly to create a solid destructive basis for the development of nuclear power in particular as well as the applications of Authority for peace in general.
However, we also face many challenges in infrastructure, high initial investment costs and human resource development. Therefore, it is necessary to develop support policies and long-term plans to gradually master the technology, ensure safe operation of nuclear facilities, and ensure national energy security.
