China: World’s most widely deployed nuclear reactor enters batch-scale builds
China’s third-generation nuclear reactor, Hualong One, is entering a new phase of faster, batch-scale construction across the country, according to a CGTN report.
With 41 reactors in operation or under construction in China, Hualong One is already the world’s most widely deployed single reactor design, according to the report. Now, China wants to build on that progress as it pushes for peak carbon emissions before 2030.
10 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy a year
Entirely domestically produced, Hualong One is capable of producing 10 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually. That is roughly enough to provide power for a million people in a moderately developed country.
Several of the reactors are undergoing preparations for full operation. In east China’s Zhejiang Province, the Cangnan project is in the final commissioning phase before grid connection. In the southern Guangdong Province and eastern China’s Shandong and Jiangsu provinces, several new units are also under construction.
China is also expanding the capacity of its Changjiang Nuclear Power Base in the southern island province of Hainan. The Nuclear Power Base is the world’s largest Hualong One complex, and it recently completed Phase I construction.
According to the CGTN report, the world’s first Hualong One unit, Fuqing Unit 5 in Fujian, will undergo its first refueling outage early this year. This is a routine “health check” after five years of commercial operation. To date, the unit has generated over 43 billion kilowatt-hours of clean power.
Hualong One has reached ‘internationally advanced level’
The export variant of the Hualong One is called the HPR1000. Pakistan was the first overseas customer for the reactor. Argentina is also a partner, and more than 20 other nations have also signed cooperation agreements.
According to the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), each Hualong One reactor prevents roughly 8 million tons of CO₂ from entering the atmosphere per year.
On its website, CNNC stated that “the Hualong One has demonstrated outstanding performance globally, reaching an internationally advanced level. It has not only laid a solid foundation for future large-scale deployment but also showcased the reliability of China’s independently developed third-generation nuclear technology. The Hualong One offers a replicable solution for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.”
The reactor achieved a perfect score in the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) evaluation. To date, no major safety incidents have been reported, and it has achieved over 1,000 days of safe, stable operation.
Crucially, Hualong One meets the European Utility Requirements, meaning it is certified for use in the continent. The reactor also passed the UK’s Generic Design Assessment, and it has won China’s prestigious National Quality Engineering Award.
China believes Hualong One will play an important role in achieving its “dual carbon goals”. The nation aims to reach peak emissions before 2030, and ultimately hit net zero by 2060.