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China’s leading nuclear and clean energy developer has commenced operation of the first Hualong One nuclear power unit in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The unit is part of the Taipingling nuclear project located in Huizhou and has recently connected to the power grid. It has the capacity to produce over nine billion kilowatt-hours annually, sufficient to supply electricity to a city with a population exceeding one million residents in the region.
Construction of the nuclear unit was carried out by a subsidiary of the developer, which completed all commissioning procedures and met the criteria for commercial operation on April 19. The unit successfully finished all performance tests and underwent a 168-hour continuous full-power operation assessment, according to company officials. They reported that all operational parameters are normal and stable, and the unit is functioning well.
The Greater Bay Area is recognized as one of China’s most economically dynamic zones, with a high and ongoing need for a stable, clean, and efficient energy supply. The developer has plans to install six Hualong One units at the Taipingling site. Once fully operational, the total annual electricity generation from these units could surpass 55 billion kWh, which would reduce coal consumption by approximately 16.7 million tons and cut carbon dioxide emissions by around 50.8 million tons each year.
The project will unfold in three phases. While units 2 and 3 are currently under construction, other phases are still in the planning stages. The first phase includes units 2 and 3, with other units still being prepared for development.
With the launch of this unit, the developer now operates 29 nuclear reactors with a combined capacity of 33.04 gigawatts. Additionally, 19 more units are under construction, totaling 23.02 GW of capacity, most of which employ the domestically developed Hualong One reactor technology.
Overall, China is seeing a steady increase in the number and capacity of nuclear power units. Currently, there are 112 reactors in various stages of operation, construction, or approval, with a combined capacity exceeding 125 GW. It’s projected that the number of operational units will grow to around 70 by the end of the year.
Share prices of the company saw a 1.6% rise, reaching CNY 4.56 (approximately 67 US cents) as of mid-morning in Shenzhen today.
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