China's nuclear industry has been developing for 70 years. It is making joint efforts to benefit people in the energy sector and other industries in the supply chain. In this episode of China's nuclear industry, CGTN reporter Zheng Yibing brings you closer to the most advanced nuclear power plants in the country.
China ranks number one in the world in total nuclear power generation capacity and production. A total of 102 nuclear reactors are currently in operation or under construction with a total installed capacity of 113 gigawatts. Among them, 30 are "Hualong One" which refers to China's third-generation nuclear power technology with full intellectual property rights and the world's strictest safety standards.
On the first day of 2025, in southeast China's Fujian Province, commercial operation began at the first unit of the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant, currently the largest "Hualong One" nuclear power base in the world.
XU PENGFEI, Chairman, China National Nuclear Engineering Corporation "Hualong-1 represents a collaborative effort at innovation. Thousands of companies in the industrial chain have been united in research and development to make technological breakthroughs."
China is also making breakthroughs in fourth-generation reactors. A year ago, the world's first demonstration project of such a reactor began commercial operation in east China's Shandong Province. The power plant draws global attention with its High Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor-Pebble-bed Module which is claimed to be able to steer away from a meltdown or leak of radioactive materials even in extreme conditions. Now, two reactors are in full power stable operation.
ZHANG YIJIN, Chief operator, Huaneng Shandong Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Plant "They generate electricity every day with the power of 150 megawatts. The state of the unit, including the operation of various parameters are very stable."
In the southern island province of Hainan, the construction of a demonstration project for a small modular reactor "Linglong-1" is underway. It is expected to be connected to the grid in 2026. It is smaller, smarter and in modular design and can be used for power generation, heating, and hydrogen production.
QU YONG, Chief engineer of Linglong-1Hainan Nuclear Power "We call it SMR (small modular reactor). Each standard module of SMR could provide the load of 100 megawatts, and it could be perfectly coupled with user's needs."
Its chief engineer says its Small Modular Reactor, or SMR, will be a trend in nuclear energy technology. Linglong-1 is the first SMR approved the International Atomic Energy Agency known as the IAEA. And the agency said last year that China, as a member state of the IAEA, has long been contributing to the nuclear energy industry, integrating good practices and international standards.
SOPHIE BOUTAUD DE LA COMBE, Director, Office of Public Information, Communication, International Atomic Energy Agency "Abroad, China is helping other countries achieve their own energy goals by building quickly and safely their nuclear power industry. This shows the world that it is possible to build nuclear power plants quickly and with integrated costs."
With the efforts to safely develop nuclear power, future power supply growth in China is likely to come mostly from non-fossil energy sources amid its green energy transition. Zheng Yibing, CGTN, Beijing.