China moves ahead with first thorium nuclear reactor

Chinese officials have approved the country’s first thorium-based nuclear reactor at the Hongshagang Industrial Cluster in Wuwei City. The experimental reactor could open the door to a cheap and safe alternative to uranium-based nuclear energy in the future, according to those close to the project. Located in the far reaches of China’s north-western Gobi Desert,…

Scientists produce cheap hydrogen gas from seawater

Chinese scientists have created a floating hydrogen farm that harnesses both the power of the winds and the seas to convert seawater into clean hydrogen gas, without the need for the often energy-intensive desalination process typical in the industry. The offshore platform, dubbed ‘Dongfu Number One’ by its creators, completed a successful 10-day continuous operation…

China brings giant deep-sea wind turbine online

China’s first deep-sea offshore floating wind turbine is ready to go live. The gigantic wind-powered platform was developed by the state-owned energy firm, China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) and is expected to produce 22 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity every year. The 11 thousand-ton turbine, called Haiyou Guanlan or CNOOC Guanlan, was installed 137…

Floating solar plant for Lake Kariba with Chinese help

Zimbabwean authorities are considering a proposal made by the China Energy Engineering Corporation (China Energy) for a 1 000-megawatt floating solar farm on the southern African country’s largest water body, Lake Kariba. The nearly $1 billion project would ease the immense pressure on Zimbabwe’s energy grid which currently fails to meet even 50% of the…

China rolls out first hydrogen-powered, eco-friendly trains

China has what it claims is the world’s only hydrogen-powered train for urban environments. The eco-friendly carriages rolled off the line on the 18th of January 2023 in the country’s southwestern city of Chengdu, Sichuan province, with an estimated top speed of 160 kilometres per hour, according to a recent report by Chinese state media.…

China delivers world’s largest wind turbine

Chinese engineers have unveiled a massive 16-megawatt wind turbine, powerful enough to generate and deliver clean electricity to more than 36 000 households yearly. Jointly developed by two of the country’s most prominent industry players, the turbine’s developers claimed it is the largest ever built and that it affirms China’s position as a leader in…

China forges ahead in green hydrogen production

A team of Chinese researchers has developed a new self-supporting, 3D electrode that reduces overpotential, taking another step towards large-scale green hydrogen production. Hydrogen energy development is keenly pursued by the world’s top minds as it is considered one of the least environmentally impactful energy sources available. Green hydrogen, already an attractive energy source because…