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Reducing the share of coal-fired power while increasing the proportion of nuclear energy is one of the important strategies to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality as early as possible.¹ In recent years, the concept of "Coal-to-Nuclear (C2N)" has been introduced globally, i.e., transforming existing coal-fired power plants into nuclear ones.² This approach, also known as repowering or repurposing, aims to leverage the geographical advantages, existing grid feed-in facilities, and relevant permits of a power plant. The core value is to transition from high-emission coal-fired power to low or even near-zero carbon nuclear power, addressing the severe challenges posed by global climate change and accelerating the decarbonization of energy systems.

So far, coal-fired power still dominates the energy supply globally including China. C2N presents a novel strategy for energy transition. This strategy has the potential to lower down the construction costs of nuclear power plants, promote the development of advanced nuclear systems, and ensure energy equity for phasing out the whole coal power industry. As such, C2N could play a significant role in advancing the development of new energy systems.

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