As the 4th China Nuclear Energy High-Quality Development Conference and Shenzhen International Nuclear Industry Innovation Expo concluded on Friday at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, over 600 global enterprises and research institutions gathered here have painted a vivid picture of nuclear energy's evolving role – one that transcends electricity generation to become a cornerstone of low-carbon civilian life.

Beyond electricity: Nuclear energy's civilian breakthroughs​

The expo deliberately challenged the stereotype of nuclear energy as merely a power source, focusing instead on its transformative potential in daily life. This focus aligns with a consensus reached by attendees: China's nuclear industry is at a historic turning point – shifting from single-function power generation to a multi-dimensional ecosystem that serves broader societal needs.

Nuclear heating: Clean solution for northern winter smog​

In northern China, coal-fired heating has long plagued cities with severe smog. Nuclear district heating has emerged as a transformative alternative, utilizing reactor waste heat to reduce emissions while alleviating natural gas shortages during peak demand.​

"For the 2024-2025 heating season, the total heating area of 'Nuanhe-1' increased by approximately 500,000 square meters," said Wang Linhui, deputy section chief of Shandong Nuclear Power's Chemical and Environmental Protection Department. "By 2026, it is expected to provide clean heating to Qingdao."​

Developed independently by SPIC Shandong Nuclear Power with full intellectual property rights, "Nuanhe-1" is China's first commercial nuclear heating project. Over six heating seasons, it has supplied clean warmth to 400,000 households in the cities of Haiyang and Rushan in Shandong Province. The National Energy Administration officially promoted nuclear heating in 2021, integrating it into northern China's clean heating system.​

"Nuclear heating has advanced from regional demonstration to large-scale commercialization," noted Zhang Zhongwei, deputy director of Shandong Nuclear Power's Engineering Department. "Its safety, carbon neutrality and economic advantages make it a major player in clean heating."

Nuclear hydrogen: Green key to carbon neutrality​

High-temperature nuclear reactors are accelerating the era of affordable green hydrogen. Unlike electricity-dependent electrolysis, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors use 700-950 degrees Celsius thermal energy for thermochemical hydrogen production, offering a more efficient pathway.​

Traditional industrial hydrogen production relies heavily on fossil fuel reforming, failing to meet future demands for high-efficiency, large-scale, zero-emission production. Nuclear energy, as a clean primary energy source, enables hydrogen production by coupling reactors with advanced processes, generating no greenhouse gases and using water as raw material.​

By August 18, 2025, the Tianwan Nuclear Power hydrogen production project had achieved a milestone of 30,000 cubic meters of cumulative hydrogen output. Employing PEM electrolysis technology with 90 percent efficiency and 99.999 percent hydrogen purity, the project demonstrates nuclear energy's potential to replace fossil fuels in transportation and industry.

Nuclear desalination: Water security for coastal regions​

To tackle water scarcity in coastal areas, China is integrating nuclear technology with seawater desalination, supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which has developed tools like the DESALINATION Economic Evaluation Program (DEEP) for such projects.​

Nuclear desalination uses reactor-generated electricity to power desalination processes, enabling large-scale freshwater production. China has already completed the Caofeidian project, producing 50,000 cubic meters of freshwater daily. Haiyang Nuclear Power Station pioneered combined water-heat production technology, yielding 120 tons of freshwater daily through multi-stage flash and multi-effect distillation.​

From heating homes to producing green hydrogen and freshwater, China's nuclear diversification efforts are setting new benchmarks for sustainable development, proving nuclear energy's versatility beyond the power grid.

For China, this shift represents more than technological progress. "It's about advancing nuclear technology while merging it with society's most pressing needs," Huang Xiaojin, professor of Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology at Tsinghua University, concluded. "That's the true power of our nuclear ecosystem."