Construction of two nuclear projects to help Hainan reach 'dual carbon' goals

The ongoing construction of two nuclear power projects in China's southernmost nuclear power base will hopefully help Hainan province to become the first in the country to achieve the "dual carbon" goals, according to a nuclear power professional.

The two projects - Linglong One and the second phase of Hualong One - will provide stronger support for Hainan in constructing an experimental zone of ecological civilization, as well as a clean energy demonstration island, said Chen Jianxin, chief engineer of Hainan Nuclear Power Co Ltd.

After completion, the total installed capacity of the two projects will reach 3,825,000 kilowatts, with an annual power generation of nearly 30 billion kilowatt-hours. This is equivalent to reducing the consumption of 9.3 million tons of standard coal, he told China Daily during an interview on Wednesday.

Linglong One is the world's first commercial onshore small modular reactor demonstration project, with characteristics such as high safety, a short construction period and flexible deployment.

Hualong One is China's third-generation nuclear power technology with full intellectual property rights. It has an annual power generation capacity of nearly 10 billion kilowatt-hours, which can meet the annual production and living electricity demand of 1 million people of a medium-developed country.

This is equivalent to reducing the consumption of 3.12 million tons of standard coal and reducing CO2 emissions by 8.16 million tons, Chen said.

"Hualong One has significant economic, social and environmental benefits and is of great significance for optimizing China's energy structure, promoting green and low-carbon development, and helping to achieve carbon peak and carbon neutrality goals," he added.