Hualong One reactor starts supplying electricity

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said the first unit of the Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant was connected to the grid and started power generation on Thursday, a significant milestone in the mass production construction of the "Hualong One" nuclear reactors.

Hualong One is China's third-generation nuclear power technology with full intellectual property rights. It is one of the most widely accepted series of third-generation nuclear power reactors in the world.

The Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 1 is in good condition, with all technical indicators meeting design specifications. A series of tests will be conducted in the coming period to further verify the unit's performance and ensure it meets the conditions for commercial operation, it said.

Located in Zhangzhou of Fujian province, the nuclear power plant is the starting point for the mass production construction of the "Hualong One" reactor. It is also currently the largest "Hualong One" nuclear power base in the world, with plans to build six million-kilowatt-level "Hualong One" reactors.

Each "Hualong One" nuclear power unit generates over 10 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, which is equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by 3.12 million tons and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by 8.16 million tons per year. The generated electricity can meet the annual production and living electricity needs of a population of 1 million people in a moderately developed country, said the company.

According to CNNC, the total number of "Hualong One" nuclear power units in operation and under construction, both domestically and internationally, has reached 33. This makes it the most numerous third-generation nuclear power technology in terms of units in operation and under construction worldwide, marking China's nuclear power technology and overall competitiveness as being among the world's top tier.