New Nuclear Island of Hualong One Technology Breaks Ground

The nuclear island of the No. 4 generator unit at the second phase of the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in South China's Hainan Province broke ground on Dec 28.

Equipped with Hualong One, China's third-generation nuclear power technology, the project is contracted by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd. (China Huaneng). It will contribute to Hainan's goal of achieving peak carbon dioxide emissions and reaching carbon neutrality.

Once operational, the project will improve installed capacity of Hainan's nuclear power base to 3.8 million kilowatts, meeting nearly half of the region's power demands.

By that time, the nuclear power base is expected to generate about 30 billion kilowatt-hours of power annually, equaling that produced by burning 9.36 million metric tons of standard coal and eliminating annual emissions of 24.48 million, 76,000 and 64,000 tons of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides respectively. 

Base of the nuclear island of the No.4 generator unit at the second phase of the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan Province is concreted on Dec 28. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

Against the background of high-quality development and the carbon reduction targets, CNNC has deepened cooperation with the region by promoting development of the Changjiang Nuclear Power Phase II Project. 

Meanwhile, the company will also be responsible for production, construction and installation, operation and maintenance, science and education service, and multi-purpose utilization of nuclear power and nuclear power technology applications, forming a special nuclear power industrial cluster, promoting construction of Hainan's clean energy island, supporting construction of Hainan's Free Trade Port and the national ecological civilization pilot zone, and serving economic and social development.

Hualong One is China's third-generation pressurized water reactor nuclear power technology with completely independent intellectual property rights. It meets the world's top security standards thanks to technologies like double-layer containment.

(Executive editor: Niu Yilin)