The US nuclear power plant is concentrated in the East, while China mainly builds a coastal factory and is expanding into the mainland.
Vietnam is restarting the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project, of which the Ninh Thuan 1 factory is expected to be located in Thuan Nam district. Ninh Thuan 2 Factory is located in Vinh Hai commune, Ninh Hai district. Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), National Energy Industry (PVN) in turn investors these two factories.
In addition to the project in Ninh Thuan, it is expected that on a centralized scale, Vietnam will develop a small -scale nuclear electricity nationwide, according to the shared by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien at a meeting meeting. Judgment of Electrical Plan VIII, February 12. The nuclear power source (including small -scale nuclear electricity SMR) must be placed in potential positions due to specially related to safety, regional geology and the burial of nuclear waste.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the process of choosing a location for a nuclear base usually consists of 3 stages: surveying, selecting and evaluating location.
Diablo Canyon, the last nuclear power plant also operated in California, USA. Image: Joe Johnston/San Luis Obispo Tribune
The survey is to identify potential locations for nuclear facilities after surveying a large area and eliminating inappropriate places. Selection is the review of these locations through screening and comparing them according to the criteria of safety and appropriate, thereby selecting one or some good locations. Evaluation is the stage of analysis of factors at a location that can affect the safety of the nuclear facility or operate there.
The selection and evaluation stage is extremely important, which can significantly affect the construction time, costs, public acceptance and the safety of the establishment during operation.
The process of choosing a position often takes into account all types of dangers and interaction between the nuclear power plant and the surrounding environment, including natural events such as earthquakes, geotechnical phenomena, volcanoes, floods, floods, Meteorological events, events caused by humans (both accidentally and intentionally), radioactive dispersion and the feasibility of emergency plans. These are safety factors.
Non -safe factors also need to be considered to determine the appropriate location for the nuclear power plant, such as factory security, factory technology, economy, and available properties of the country. Cool, means of transport and access to the grid, environmental impact and socio -economic impact.
Treated water tanks at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant viewed from above August 2023. Image: AFP
According to the new report of the International Energy Agency (IEA) in January 2025, nuclear electricity can reach a new record this year, contributing to improving energy security when electricity demand increases sharply. “More than 40 countries around the world also plan to enhance the role of nucleus in their energy system,” said Fatih Birol, IEA CEO, said in January.
The world currently has 440 nuclear reactors, of which 415 reactors are operating, distributed in 30 countries. The United States is the most contributed country with 94 reactors, total power capacity of 96.95 GW. Followed by France (56 furnaces, total capacity of 61.37 GW), China (56 kilns, total capacity of 54.15 GW), Russia (36 ovens, total capacity of 26.8 GW) and South Korea (26 furnace, total capacity of 25.82 gw).
Water is very important for the operation of a nuclear power plant, acting as a coolant. The nuclear reactors rotate a large amount of water through the radioactive core to eliminate the huge amount of heat generated. Every hour of operation, a 1,000 mW nuclear reactor usually has to withdraw about 170,000 cubic meters of water from the outside source. Of these, about 1,000 m3 of water will evaporate, the rest will be brought back to the outside source with higher temperatures.
The reactors will not be able to operate safely without continuous power and large amount of cool water. Even if the factory is inactive, the fuel continues to produce heat and this heat needs to be controlled to prevent explosion or radioactive leak.
This is the reason why the nuclear power plant is usually located near a large block of water such as the sea or the big lake, although this increases the risk of damage due to environmental impacts such as sea level rise, tsunamis, storms or things. Other harsh weather conditions.
Nuclear power plants are operating (purple) and are under construction (gold) in the US as of August of 2024. Image: World Nuclear Association
In the US, The majority of nuclear power plants are concentrated in the east coastal area, the five lakes and the Mississippi River. The western region and the center of the United States have very few factories.
This distribution is determined based on many factors such as near water sources, less soil risk, appropriate population density, and local viewpoints. For example, in California, the western coastal state of the United States, the strong wave of opposition to the nuclear contributes to the decision to terminate the operation of the Diablo Canyon, the last nuclear electrical base in this state, by 2030 In contrast, in 2021, in Illinois – the state adjacent to Michigan lake, one of the five lakes of North America – a legislative agency supporting $ 694 million to maintain the operation of nuclear reactors.
The nuclear power plants are operating (purple), being built (green) and is being planned (gold) in China as of January 2025. Image: World Nuclear Association
In Chinanuclear power plants are concentrating coastal. According to Yang Changli, Chairman of China General Nuclear Electricity Group, in the context of building a new type of electric system and promoting carbon goals, expanding the nuclear power development space is necessary and feasible. . Therefore, he supported the construction of more nuclear power plants in the mainland.
In terms of safety, Yang said that nuclear power plants in the mainland according to China’s plan were capable of cope with earthquakes, floods and drought. “In recent years, the nuclear industry has conducted many intensive and detailed research on the main concerns such as water resource security, low liquid discharge, and the impact of serious incidents. Go to the river basin and the feasibility of emergency plans.