Integrating nuclear power into market-based policy instruments for low-carbon transition in China:Ⅰ. analysis of key determinants

Nuclear power is a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient baseload energy source, and is in an elevating position in China’s energy system． Nuclear power is indispensable for achieving China’s carbon neutrality target and has vast potential for carbon emission reduction． Nevertheless, as of now, nuclear power has not been incorporated into China’s carbon trading market and other market-oriented policy tool systems for low-carbon transition． Its value in carbon emission reduction awaits further realization． To explore feasible mechanisms for integrating nuclear power into China’s market-oriented policy tool system for low-carbon transition, this study outlines factors and potential influences that prevent nuclear power from being included in China’s low-carbon transition market-oriented policy tool system． Calculated carbon reduction benefits that nuclear power can exert at different stages of China’s carbon neutrality process suggest that integrating nuclear power into China’s market-oriented policy tool system for low-carbon transition is not only conducive to the realization of the carbon neutrality goal, but is also beneficial for saving investments in the power system．