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South Korean Presidential Office: Expanding Renewable Energy Does Not Mean Abandoning Nuclear Power; New Nuclear and SMR Projects Already Decided

On July 3, Kim Woo-chang, Secretary for National AI Policy at the South Korean Presidential Office, responded on a program to external concerns over the power supply capacity of the semiconductor cluster in the Honam region, stating that the southwestern region of South Korea already possesses sufficient renewable energy conditions, with further room for expansion in the future. Kim Woo-chang said that South Korea's power generation resources are generally concentrated in the southwestern region, the Busan–Ulsan–Gyeongnam area, and the vicinity of nuclear power plants in Gangwon-do; the Seoul metropolitan area and central regions such as Chungcheong-do rely primarily on transmission networks for electricity. Therefore, locating large-scale power-consuming projects near power sources is one of the realistic options. In response to whether renewable energy alone is sufficient to support the semiconductor industry...

2026-07-03

Chinese Jinshui River study reveals seasonal variations affect nitrogen removal capacity of forest streams

A new study shows that the capacity of forest streams to remove excess nitrogen varies with the seasons, influenced by different environmental factors in summer and winter respectively. This finding suggests that water quality management in forest watersheds needs to give greater consideration to seasonal differences. Figure 1. Location of study sites along the Jinshui River. (a) Watershed location; (b) Watershed topography and sampling point distribution; (c) Watershed land use types. Researchers focused on the Jinshui River in central China, analyzing water and surface sediment samples from 18 sites along forested riparian zones. The study combined nitrogen-15 isotope tracing, remote sensing monitoring, water and sediment chemical measurements, and microbial-based...

2026-07-31

U.S. Research Team Tracks Main Drivers of Global Methane Rise Using Stable Isotope Analysis

A research team from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Global Monitoring Laboratory and the University of Colorado has recently traced the sources of the rapid rise in global atmospheric methane since 2007 through high-precision methane concentration measurements and carbon and hydrogen stable isotope analysis. The findings show that over the past two decades, microbial emissions have been the primary factor driving the increase in methane concentrations, while fossil fuel-related methane emissions may have remained relatively stable overall. A methane molecule consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, and methane from different sources differs in its carbon and hydrogen isotope composition. Researchers used this chemical fingerprint to distinguish methane sources: fossil fuel methane such as natural gas typically contains a relatively higher proportion of carbon-13, while methane produced by microbial processes in wetlands, landfills, livestock, and agricultural environments has a lower carbon-13 proportion, exhibiting a "lighter" isotopic signature. The proportion of deuterium in hydrogen isotopes also varies with the way methane is formed, providing a further basis for source identification.

2026-07-31

EDF plans to bring in investors for Nuward small modular reactor project by end of 2026

French utility EDF said on July 30 that it plans to bring in investors for its Nuward small modular reactor project by the end of 2026. The company stated that the related financing arrangements will be centered around European customers and industrial partners to support the development of a batch of initial reactors better aligned with user needs. Small modular reactors have not yet entered large-scale commercial production, but multiple companies worldwide are advancing the deployment of related technologies. Supporters believe that compared with traditional large nuclear power units, small modular reactors offer greater flexibility in deployment methods, application scenarios, and low-carbon energy supply. EDF is a state-owned French power company operating 57...

2026-07-31

Masayoshi Son: Nuclear Fusion Could Become Key to Powering Future AI Data Centers

SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son said at the SoftBank World annual event in Tokyo on July 14 that as electricity demand from AI data centers continues to rise, nuclear fusion technology is expected to become one of the most realistic power solutions in the near future. Son believes that most of the current electricity demand from data centers will still be met by natural gas, but this landscape could change over the next 15 years. He predicted that by 2040, global data center capacity demand will reach 3 terawatts, with nuclear fusion playing a significant role. He said at the event that fusion will become a major source of a cheaper, cleaner, and safer new form of energy on Earth, and asked rhetorically: Now...

2026-07-15

ITER Organization Director-General Attends Aix Economic Forum to Discuss Complexity Management of Pioneering Strongly-Coupled Mega-Projects

From July 2 to 4, the Aix Economic Forum (Les Rencontres Économiques d’Aix) was held in Provence, France, under the annual theme "Navigating a World of Uncertainty." Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the ITER Organization, was invited to attend the forum, where he presented the ITER Project and its pivotal role in addressing future energy challenges. His remarks centered on two core themes—climate change and the energy crisis—covering topics such as mega-project management experience and the development of the global fusion industry. As the world's first fusion verification experimental reactor, ITER's core mission is to validate the engineering feasibility of fusion power generation, paving the way for subsequent demonstration fusion power plants...

2026-07-15

Unit 2 of Romania's Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant not to shut down temporarily due to low Danube water level

Romania's National Nuclear Power Company (Nuclearelectrica) stated on July 30 that Unit 2 of the Cernavoda Nuclear Power Plant will continue to operate connected to the grid. Previously, the company had warned that the unit, located in Constanța County in southeastern Romania, might need to shut down due to the low water level of the Danube River. The company said that based on an operational analysis completed the previous night, experts believe the currently obtained relevant parameters allow Unit 2 to continue operating under safe conditions. Therefore, the unit will remain connected to Romania's national power system. Nuclearelectrica also stated that technical personnel will continuously monitor and analyze the plant's operating parameters. Given the subsequent hydrological forecasts for the Danube water level...

2026-07-31

Third fuel debris retrieval test at Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 postponed due to robotic arm malfunction

The robot used by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) for the third experimental fuel debris retrieval at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station Unit 2 malfunctioned during an on-site operational test, forcing the cancellation of the plan originally scheduled to start after July 2026 if all went well. The company stated it will reassess the relevant procedures. The malfunction occurred in part of the large robotic arm equipment used to collect fuel debris. During an operational test in the reactor building of Unit 2, TEPCO found an abnormality in one of the motors driving the robotic arm, causing the brake to fail to release and the arm to be unable to extend. The company is currently studying the replacement of the faulty motor. The third experimental retrieval plan was to use a large robotic arm...

2026-07-31

Restart of Tomari Nuclear Power Plant Unit 3 Delayed to After End of 2027

Hokkaido Electric Power Co. announced on July 30 that the restart of Unit 3 at the Tomari Nuclear Power Plant will be significantly delayed compared to earlier expectations, with the earliest possible date being the end of 2027 or later. Previously, the company had set a target of restarting as early as possible within 2027, but due to delays in the seawall construction project and the fact that the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has not yet completed its review of the relevant design and construction plans, the timeline for the unit's return to operation remains uncertain. Hokkaido Electric Power President Susumu Saito stated at a press conference that the seawall at the Tomari plant was originally scheduled for completion in the spring of 2027, but is now expected to be finished by mid-August 2027 due to additional work such as seismic reinforcement of the wharf and liquefaction countermeasures...

2026-07-31

Bulgarian Expert Says Belene NPP Restart Technically Feasible

Bulgarian energy expert Bogomil Manchev recently stated that the long-dormant Belene NPP project remains technically viable for restart. If Bulgaria and Ukraine jointly participate in financing and establish a co-ownership mechanism, the project could become a new nuclear power project built through bilateral cooperation. Manchev believes that Ukraine will still face significant electricity demand for a long period in the future. If funding can be secured for the project, Bulgaria could proceed with nuclear power plant construction at the original Belene site. His proposed options include joint financing and co-ownership by both countries, or Ukraine signing a long-term power purchase agreement to support project financing...

2026-07-23

Xinhua Exclusive Interview | China Makes Significant Contributions to the "Artificial Sun" Project — Interview with Alain Bécoulet, Deputy Director-General and Chief Scientist of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Organization

On July 26, 2027, Xinhua News Agency published an exclusive interview with Alain Bécoulet, Deputy Director-General and Chief Scientist of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Organization, on China's significant contributions to the "Artificial Sun" project and its role in accelerating global fusion research. Bécoulet noted that China plays a fundamental role in supplying ITER components (superconducting technology, cables, magnet manufacturing, cryostats, etc.), and that the tokamak installation work undertaken by the Chinese consortium "exceeded expectations in terms of time and cost." He also stated that facilities such as EAST, HL-3, and BEST provide ITER with experimental predictions, component testing, and technical twin validation. He believes that through sustained investment and international cooperation, China has begun to play a leading role in the global fusion field.

2026-07-27

Nuclear power companies in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, selected for SMR advanced manufacturing technology project

Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, announced on the 30th that local nuclear power companies and research institutions have all been selected in a government project solicitation, and will participate in developing three key technologies to shorten the manufacturing cycle of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). This project is organized and solicited by the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment of South Korea and the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP), with a focus on innovative SMR manufacturing technologies. These technologies are considered helpful in improving the manufacturing efficiency of key reactor components and compressing production cycles. According to the arrangement, Doosan Enerbility...

2026-07-31

Controllable Nuclear Fusion Industry Intellectual Property Operation Center Launched in Hefei

On July 30, at the second meeting of the first member congress of the Anhui Fusion Industry Association held in Hefei, Anhui, the Controllable Nuclear Fusion Industry Intellectual Property Operation Center was launched. The center aims to focus on the creation, protection, and utilization of intellectual property in the fusion field, bridging the "last mile" of achievement transformation. It is reported that the Controllable Nuclear Fusion Industry Intellectual Property Operation Center is one of the first batch of industry intellectual property operation centers recognized by the China National Intellectual Property Administration, jointly launched by the Anhui Provincial Market Supervision Administration, the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Anhui Fusion Industry Association, and Fusion New Energy (Anhui) Co., Ltd. In the future, the center will build a patent pool...

2026-07-31

Factory Acceptance Test Completed for TM020 RF Cavity of Super Tau-Charm Facility

The 500MHz TM020 normal-conducting RF cavity, a key component of the STCF accelerator constructed by Lanzhou Taiji, passed its factory acceptance test on July 28, 2026. This marks a significant milestone in the key technology research project for the Super Tau-Charm Facility (STCF), a new-generation electron-positron collider led by the University of Science and Technology of China. The review meeting brought together experts from the Institute of High Energy Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing University, Tsinghua University, the University of Science and Technology of China, and Dongsheng Fusion (Shanghai) Technology Co., Ltd. The expert panel conducted a comprehensive and rigorous review of the RF cavity (a 1200mm large-diameter cavity), including its structural design, secondary vacuum brazing, precision machining methods, vacuum performance, and cold test results, and unanimously agreed that all indicators met the design requirements. The measured unloaded quality factor (Q₀) reached 56900 (design value 61500), placing its performance at a leading level among similar high-performance normal-conducting RF cavities in China.

2026-07-31

China Fusion Energy Co., Ltd. Holds 2026 Mid-Year Work Conference and Semi-Annual Economic Operation Analysis Meeting

On July 29, China Fusion Energy Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as China Fusion or the Company) held its 2026 mid-year work conference and semi-annual economic operation analysis meeting to thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and all previous plenary sessions, earnestly implement the spirit of the 2026 mid-year Party Leadership Group (Enlarged) Meeting of China National Nuclear Corporation, solidly advance the study and education on establishing and practicing a correct view of political achievements, comprehensively summarize the progress and effectiveness of the Company's operations and reform and development in the first half of the year, study and deploy work for the second half of the year, continuously promote the "Pursuing Excellence · Breaking New Ground through Reform" annual special action, and strive for a high-quality start to the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The Company's Party Secretary and Chairman, and the Party Secretary of the Southwestern Institute of Physics (hereinafter referred to as SWIP)...

2026-07-31