Construction of New Hualong One Generator Units Starts in Hainan

Construction of the No. 3 and No. 4 units of Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant started on March 31 in South China's Hainan Province.

Equipped with the Hualong One technology, China's third-generation pressurized water nuclear reactor technology with completely independent intellectual property rights, the new units meet the world's latest nuclear safety standards and also the highest safety requirements.

It is expected to contribute to the region's goal of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality.

Developed by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Hualong One has a design life of 60 years and a special nuclear fuel assembly that sets the refueling cycle at about 18 months.

The first two nuclear power units of the plant, equipped with the CNP650 pressurized water nuclear technology independently developed by CNNC, went into commercial operation in 2016.

Its annual power generating capacity accounts for nearly one-third of Hainan's power supply, equaling the output generated by burning about 3.07 million tons of standard coal and reducing emissions by 8.04 million tons of carbon dioxide per year.

The plant has played a key role in stable clean power supply for construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port.

As of now, the first domestic and overseas Hualong One nuclear reactors are in operation and construction of other generator units is underway.

According to the company, the annual output of each Hualong One generator unit is nearly 10 billion kWh, which is enough for annual domestic and production uses of 1 million people. The amount equals burning of 3.12 million tons of standard coal and eliminates 8.16 million tons of carbon dioxide.

An aerial view of a construction site of a generator unit at the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan Province [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

A view of the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]

(Executive editor: Wang Ruoting)