By Abbas Nazil
Residents of Haiyang in Northern China are experiencing warm winters without emissions, thanks to a pioneering nuclear heating system that supplies heat to more than 400,000 people.
Pensioner Jiang Fuxue enjoys tending his indoor garden at 23 degrees Celsius even during snowstorms, a comfort previously provided by coal-fired heating that is now replaced by clean nuclear energy.
The Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant, which operates two advanced pressurized water reactors, produces approximately 20 billion kWh annually, generating electricity while also supplying surplus steam for district heating.
The district heating project began as a pilot in 2019 and expanded city-wide by 2021, reaching nearby Rushan and Weihai in 2023, with plans to cover Qingdao City, benefiting five million residents over 200 million square meters.
By using excess steam that would otherwise be wasted, the plant heats water through heat exchangers and delivers it through upgraded pipes to homes, ensuring no radiation reaches residents.
This system has already provided over 14 million gigajoules of carbon-free heat and cut CO2 emissions by 2.3 million tons by avoiding the burning of 1.3 million tons of coal, also improving winter air quality in Haiyang and surrounding towns.
Local officials and engineers highlight that nuclear heating is more stable, economical, and eco-friendly compared with other clean heating methods, offering both affordable and reliable thermal energy to communities.
The project also demonstrates innovative uses of excess heat, including seawater desalination to provide drinking water and supporting mangrove growth to enhance the local environment, reflecting the cogeneration potential of nuclear plants.
Residents report more stable indoor temperatures and lower heating costs, while plant engineers take pride in delivering a system that is safe, efficient, and environmentally sustainable.
Globally, countries such as Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Switzerland, and Ukraine are exploring nuclear district heating, desalination, and hydrogen production as part of decarbonization strategies.
IAEA experts note that nuclear cogeneration increases efficiency, reduces pollution, and strengthens energy system resilience, while Chinese authorities are sharing Haiyang’s experience internationally to support global climate action.