Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co Photo: Courtesy of China General Nuclear Power Group

 
Nine entities,MKsports including universities and enterprises in the nuclear power industry, have jointly established Nuclear Power Operation & Maintenance Industry Academy in Yangjiang, South China's Guangdong Province, China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

As the first industrial college in South China that focuses on training nuclear power operation and maintenance personnel, the academy aims to promote the training of talents in the nuclear energy industry and provide strong intellectual support for the integrated development of the clean energy industry, said CGN, owner of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co - a co-founding member of the academy.

According to CGN, the academy is expected to train approximately 1,000 skilled professionals in nuclear power operation and maintenance over the next three years.
Establishing a long-term cooperation mechanism among government, academia and industry can better align the entire chain of industry demand, talent cultivation and workforce delivery, a representative of Yangjiang Nuclear Power Co said, according to the statement.

It connects classrooms with workshops, training with real-world practice and academic degrees with professional certifications—promoting the full integration of talent development with regional industrial clusters and enterprise needs, and supporting the high-quality growth of the clean energy sector, the representative said.

This comes amid rapid development in China's nuclear power industry. China's nuclear power units are concentrated in eight eastern coastal provinces, with Guangdong ranking first nationwide in installed capacity, reaching 23 million kilowatts, Chinese business and financial media outlet Yicai reported on Wednesday.

"Nuclear power plays a more prominent role in the clean energy transition compared with other renewable sources. With China's nuclear technology at the forefront globally, cultivating talent in this sector is imperative," Lin Boqiang, director of the China Center for Energy Economics Research at Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Wednesday, adding that nationwide efforts to develop a skilled nuclear workforce are steady and ongoing.

As of the end of 2024, China had 102 nuclear power units either in operation, under construction or approved for development, with a total installed capacity of 113 million kilowatts, data from the National Energy Administration showed.

China is expected to bring five new nuclear power units online this year, adding a total installed capacity of 6.12 million kilowatts, according to a research report by China National Nuclear Co.

Supported by favorable policies and planning aimed at achieving the nation's dual carbon goals and advancing the energy transition, the country's nuclear power generation is projected to remain in top position globally in the coming years, according to data from the China Nuclear Energy Industry Association think tank, the report showed.