Solar panels and wind turbines dominate headlines about the energy transition. But neither can provide the round-the-clock, weather-independent power that keeps grids stable. That job falls to baseload zero-carbon sources, specifically nuclear and geothermal energy, and both are scaling up rapidly. Nuclear reactors generated a record 2,667 TWh of electricity in 2024, surpassing a benchmark that had stood since 2006.1 Global geothermal capacity reached 17.17 GW across 35 countries by the end of 2025.2
These two energy sources share a common engineering challenge: they operate under conditions that destroy ordinary equipment. Extreme temperatures, radiation exposure, corrosive fluids, and seismic risk all place extraordinary demands on flow control components. For plant operators and EPC contractors, selecting high-performance valves that meet these demands is not optional. It is a safety and regulatory requirement.
Nuclear power plants operate under the most tightly regulated conditions in the energy industry. Every valve installed in a nuclear facility must comply with the nuclear codes applicable to its host country. The most widely recognized frameworks include ASME Section III (predominant in the United States and many international projects), the French RCC-M code (widely adopted in China and in French-designed plants), Germany's KTA rules, and China's NB/T standards. The applicable code depends on the regulatory jurisdiction of the plant. To manufacture and stamp ASME-code components, a company must hold an ASME N-type Certificate of Authorization, renewed every three years through rigorous quality assurance audits. In addition, manufacturers must obtain the relevant national nuclear equipment licenses for each market they serve — for example, China's HAF certification issued by the National Nuclear Safety Administration.3
The reason behind this strictness is straightforward: nuclear valves manage superheated steam, pressurized coolant water, and radioactive containment boundaries. A single leak can compromise reactor safety. A single uncontrolled leak can compromise reactor safety. As a result, nuclear valves must meet extremely stringent allowable leakage rates defined by the applicable nuclear codes. In a typical pressurized water reactor (PWR), primary-circuit valves handle reactor coolant at pressures of approximately 15–17 MPa and temperatures up to 350 °C under sustained neutron radiation, while secondary-side valves manage steam at approximately 5–7 MPa and 260–285 °C. Both services demand exceptional material performance and sealing integrity.
Material selection is central to this challenge. Valve internals must resist radiation-induced embrittlement over decades of continuous service. Austenitic stainless steels (such as Type 316L) and nickel-based alloys are commonly specified because they retain ductility under neutron bombardment. Seismic resilience adds another layer of complexity. Valves must remain operable during and after earthquake events, which means that actuator assemblies, yoke connections, and bolting must all pass seismic qualification testing.
In December 2023, more than 20 countries launched the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy at COP28, committing to triple global nuclear capacity by 2050 relative to 2020 levels. As of March 2026, 38 nations have endorsed this pledge. The World Nuclear Association projects that global nuclear capacity could reach approximately 1,446 GW(e) by 2050 if national targets are met — exceeding the Declaration's 1,200 GW goal.4 At the same time, 63 reactors are currently under construction worldwide, adding 66.2 GW(e) of new capacity.5 Each new reactor requires thousands of qualified nuclear valves — a typical twin-unit PWR plant may contain over 10,000 valves in the nuclear island alone, spanning gate, globe, check, ball, butterfly, control, safety relief, diaphragm, and main steam isolation types, among others. Neway Valve manufactures a comprehensive range of nuclear valve categories, with products designed and tested in accordance with ASME Section III and other applicable nuclear code requirements. Neway Valve manufactures a comprehensive range of nuclear valve categories, with products designed and tested in accordance with ASME Section III and other applicable nuclear code requirements.
Geothermal power plants tap heat from deep underground, often at temperatures exceeding 200 °C. The International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that geothermal capacity factors exceed 90%, compared with less than 30% for wind and less than 15% for solar PV.6 That reliability is valuable, but it comes at a cost: the geothermal fluids that make it possible are among the most aggressive media any valve will encounter.
Geothermal brines typically contain dissolved hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), chloride ions, silica, and other dissolved minerals. These compounds attack metal surfaces through multiple mechanisms simultaneously. H₂S causes sulfide stress cracking in carbon steels. Chlorides promote pitting and crevice corrosion in standard stainless steels. Dissolved silica deposits as hard scale on valve seats and stems, restricting movement and degrading seal integrity.
The problem is compounded by the abrasive nature of the fluid itself. Suspended particles in geothermal steam and brine erode valve trim surfaces over time, particularly at points where flow velocity is highest. Standard cast steel valves used in conventional power plants typically fail within months in these conditions.
For geothermal flow control valves, the solution lies in material upgrades and surface engineering. Duplex and super duplex stainless steels (such as UNS S31803 and UNS S32750) provide significantly higher resistance to chloride-induced pitting than Type 316 stainless steel. For valve seats and sealing surfaces, Stellite hardfacing (a cobalt-chromium alloy overlay) creates a wear-resistant barrier that withstands both erosion and scaling.
Neway Valve has supplied valves for geothermal projects including the Olkaria Geothermal Power Plant in Kenya, one of the largest geothermal facilities in Africa. That project requires valves capable of withstanding the combination of high temperature, high chloride content, and abrasive particulate that defines geothermal service.
Meeting nuclear and geothermal specifications requires full traceability from raw material to finished product. This is where vertically integrated manufacturing becomes a decisive factor.
Neway Group operates three dedicated foundries: Tongan (sand castings, 19,200 tons/year capacity), Fengshan (precision investment castings, 12,000 tons/year), and a forging facility in Liyang (50,000 tons/year, with single-piece capacity up to 20 tons). All casting and forging are performed in-house, which means that material chemistry, heat treatment, and non-destructive examination (NDE) records are controlled from the melt stage onward.
This matters because both nuclear regulators and geothermal operators demand complete material traceability. For nuclear components, every heat of material must be traceable to its origin, with certified mill test reports (CMTRs) documenting chemical composition, mechanical properties, and testing results. For geothermal valves, custom alloy specifications (such as controlled ferrite content in duplex castings) require precise process control that is difficult to achieve through external sourcing.
In-house capability also enables the application of specialized surface treatments. Stellite hardfacing on valve seats and discs, for example, is applied through controlled weld overlay processes that must meet strict hardness and adhesion criteria. When the foundry, machine shop, and assembly facility are on the same campus, quality deviations can be identified and corrected immediately.
The trajectory is clear. Nuclear and geothermal energy are both expanding because they solve a problem that solar and wind alone cannot: reliable, dispatchable, zero-carbon baseload power. The IEA estimates that geothermal could supply up to 15% of global electricity demand growth through 2050, equivalent to roughly 800 GW of capacity.6
On the nuclear side, 38 countries have endorsed the Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy by 2050 as of March 2026, with support from more than 140 nuclear companies and major technology firms.7
Every megawatt of new capacity in these sectors depends on high-performance valves that can operate safely under extreme conditions for decades. The valves themselves may not make headlines, but without them, the energy transition cannot move forward.
To explore Neway Valve's engineered solutions for nuclear and geothermal power generation, visit our Power Plant Valve and Geothermal Power application pages.
World Nuclear Association. "World Nuclear Performance Report 2025." World Nuclear Association, 2025, world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/world-nuclear-performance-report-2025-nuclear-delivers-record-breaking-year-in-electricity-generation.
ThinkGeoEnergy. "Global Top 10 Geothermal Power Countries at Year-End 2025." ThinkGeoEnergy, 13 Jan. 2026, www.thinkgeoenergy.com/global-top-10-geothermal-power-countries-at-year-end-2025/.
ASME. "Nuclear Component Certification." ASME, www.asme.org/certification-accreditation/nuclear-component-certification.
World Nuclear Association. "Four More Countries Endorse Global Declaration to Triple Nuclear Energy." World Nuclear Association, 10 Mar. 2026, world-nuclear.org/news-and-media/press-statements/four-more-countries-endorse-global-declaration-to-triple-nuclear-energy.
International Atomic Energy Agency. "Six Global Trends in Nuclear Power You Should Know." IAEA, 21 Jan. 2026, www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/six-global-trends-in-nuclear-power-you-should-know.
International Energy Agency. "The Future of Geothermal Energy: Executive Summary." IEA, 2024, www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-geothermal-energy/executive-summary.
International Atomic Energy Agency. "Global Leaders Affirm Central Role for Nuclear at 2026 Nuclear Energy Summit." IAEA, 10 Mar. 2026, www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/global-leaders-affirm-central-role-for-nuclear-at-2026-nuclear-energy-summit.
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