CGN Beefs up Digital Transformation for High-Quality Development

Digital transformation is playing a crucial role in China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN)'s evolution into an internationally-leading clean energy enterprise.

Given that the nuclear power industry features difficult technologies that need to be in place over long life spans as well as complicated equipment and high security requirements, digital transformation matters in guaranteeing the safe operation of units.

For example, a 1 million kW generator unit is equipped with more than 380 systems and nearly 80,000 devices, the main ones of which must operate for 40 or 60 years.

Application of digital technology in such fields as collaborative design, simulation calculation, trend analysis, intelligent identification and situation awareness will greatly improve operational security.

What's more, wind and solar power generation facilities occupy large areas. Digital technology contributes a great deal to micro-siting selection, prediction of generation output, management and operation of facilities and human resource allocation.

CGN highly values digitalization and has made action plans to catch up with world-leading enterprises in respect to strategy, business management, digital scenario application, new technology application and innovation.

The company has also implemented entire life-cycle and intelligent management of the nuclear power facilities.

Based on information technology, it studies system approaches and comprehensive technology centered on collaborative design as part of an open, shared and collaborative smart nuclear power system.

At present, CGN has completed construction of a digital power station even as it completes real power station projects.

Its smart nuclear power station project has gained 73 development achievements and 43 patents.

In addition, CGN is in full swing in developing whole life-cycle data asset management and front-end tools.

The FirmSys developed by CGN, a domestically-developed high-safety nuclear power plant digital control system (DCS) with complete proprietary intellectual property rights, has contributed to digitalization and intelligentization of DCS in China.

In China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), CGN will gear up for digital transformation to continue optimization of data allocation and evolve into a world-leading clean energy enterprise.

It will strengthen cooperation with enterprises along the industrial chain and boost application of such innovative technologies as cloud technology, big data and the internet of things into business and operation.

Construction of smart nuclear power facilities, smart mining projects and intelligent new energy will also be highlighted in the next five years to improve quality and efficiency of production.

Last but not least, the company will highly value cultivation of talents and improvement of supporting innovative mechanisms to beef up digital transformation.

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)