Policy and Economics of China's Nuclear Residential Heating (2024-2025)
China’s rapid urbanization and economic growth have intensified residential heating demands, raising concerns over reliance on coal- and gas-based systems that drive air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. This team from Duke University and Duke Kunshan University examined whether residual heat from nuclear power plants could provide a sustainable alternative. The team brought together students, faculty and post-docs across engineering, policy and environmental disciplines to evaluate the technical, economic, environmental and social feasibility of nuclear-based district heating.
The team quantified provincial heating demand using population projections, historical housing data and climate indicators, then mapped these against current and planned nuclear plant sites. Technical and economic modeling suggested that residual heat recovery is feasible, with infrastructure costs, such as pipelines and water pumps, comparable to existing energy systems. Environmental health analyses indicated that replacing fossil fuels with nuclear residual heat could significantly cut carbon dioxide and PM2.5 emissions. In high-demand provinces like Shandong, these reductions could prevent hundreds of Disability-Adjusted Life Years lost annually due to pollution-related illness.
Beyond the technical and health findings, the team also studied social and policy factors. A willingness-to-pay survey underway in the Yangtze Delta Region is testing public acceptance of nuclear-based heating, while policy reviews and case studies informed recommendations for integrating the system into China’s energy strategy. The collaboration produced a comprehensive framework combining data collection, cost-benefit analysis, risk perception and policy guidance. Students’ interdisciplinary work culminated in a research poster and ongoing manuscript preparations, with the potential to influence infrastructure investment and sustainable energy policy in China and beyond.
Timing
Summer 2024 – Spring 2025
Team Outputs
Potential, Costs, and Benefits of Harvesting Residual Heat from Nuclear Power Plants for District Heating (Poster presentation at the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, April 16, 2025)
Ongoing manuscript preparations
Policy recommendations
This Team in the News
Climate Pathfinder: Finding Solutions Within the Grid
Image: Shanghai, China, by Lei Han, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0