China testing truck-mounted nuclear reactor that could power AI data centre

Leading scientist says prototype mobile ‘power bank’ could end ‘battery anxiety’ and generate up to 10MW of energy

China is testing a prototype nuclear reactor that can be carried on a truck, according to a leading scientist.

He described the reactor, which has been in development for several years, as the “world’s first 10-megawatt vehicle-mounted nuclear power unit” and said the team behind it was now seeking opportunities to put it to use. This output would be enough to power a medium-sized AI data centre.

“The ‘nuclear power bank’ we proposed exemplifies the new generation of nuclear energy systems,” Wu Yican, the chief scientific adviser to the Institute of Nuclear Energy Safety Technology at the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, told Science and Technology Daily last week.

“This technology offers exceptional safety in a remarkably compact size and an operational lifespan of decades without recharging,” Wu, who is also a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said.

“It offers a solution to ‘battery anxiety’ in different applications, including providing power for remote regions and islands, delivering emergency backup power in special environments, propelling ships, powering space systems and supporting AI computing and data centres.”

Wu said the development of next-generation nuclear systems was in full swing, adding that he believed they should be “built on the principle of ensuring nuclear safety at the source”.

He added: “They should be approachable, flexible and intelligent, enabling them to meet the future’s diverse energy needs.