China has put forward a positive vision to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060. Nuclear power is expected to be further developed as a non-fossil energy source. Although the national nuclear power technology made great progress in 13th Five-Year Plan period, there are many uncertainties and challenges for its development in the future, including dispute on scale of nuclear power site resources, nuclear power role in the future energy structure, new demand on near-zero emission energy systems, impact of electric power system reform on economic benefits, public concern & local pressure and so on. Therefore, the paper suggests that nuclear power development should be defined more clearly, that utilization paths should be enriched, and that the affect of carbon reduction should be highlighted. At the same time, it is necessary to improve supporting policies and mechanisms and strengthen public publicity to minimize obstacles in the development of nuclear energy.

carbon-neutral  /  nuclear power  /  nuclear power