BEIJING, April 19 -- China's nuclear power installed capacity, including that in operation and under construction, is predicted to top 88gigawatts by 2020, said Zhang Huazhu, head of the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA), a national industry organization.

Nuclear power will play a bigger role in improving the country's energy structure, coping with climate change and controlling air pollution, he said earlier this week at an industry event.

China generated about 51.3 billion kwh of nuclear electricity in 2013, which translates into 55 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions reductions, Zhang said.