Jan 2, 2025
Zhangzhou unit 1 begins commercial operations
The first unit of the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant, located in Fujian province, China, and the inaugural Hualong One (HPR1000) reactor among six planned at the site, has commenced commercial operations, according to an announcement from China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
At 00:17 on January 1, the 1126 MWe (net) domestically-designed pressurized water reactor successfully completed a series of commissioning tests, including a continuous test run of 168 hours, as stated by CNNC.
In May 2014, local government authorities granted approval for Phase I of the Zhangzhou plant, which included two AP1000 units. The National Nuclear Safety Administration approved the AP1000 units in December 2015 and confirmed the site location in October 2016. The construction of Phase I was initially anticipated to begin in May 2017. However, CNNC later opted for the HPR1000 design instead. Two additional Hualong One units are scheduled for Phase II, with another two proposed for Phase III.
Construction of Zhangzhou Unit 1 commenced in October 2019, followed by Unit 2 starting in September 2020.
In September 2022, China's State Council greenlit the construction of two more Hualong One units as part of Phase II of the Zhangzhou project. The first concrete for the nuclear island of Unit 3 was poured on February 22 of the previous year, with Unit 4's concrete poured in October.
The process of loading 177 fuel assemblies into the core of Zhangzhou Unit 1 began on October 12, following the issuance of an operating license by China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The reactor achieved its first criticality on November 20 and was connected to the electrical grid on November 28.
According to CNNC, the commencement of commercial operations at Zhangzhou Unit 1 signifies significant progress in the mass construction of Hualong One reactors. The company plans to build a total of six such units at the location, with three additional units currently under construction.
The Zhangzhou project, which has an overall investment exceeding CNY100 billion (USD14 billion), is owned by CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, a partnership between CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%).
CNNC highlighted that the number of power reactors under its management has risen to 26, with the total installed capacity increasing from 23.75 GWe to 24.962 GWe.
At 00:17 on January 1, the 1126 MWe (net) domestically-designed pressurized water reactor successfully completed a series of commissioning tests, including a continuous test run of 168 hours, as stated by CNNC.
In May 2014, local government authorities granted approval for Phase I of the Zhangzhou plant, which included two AP1000 units. The National Nuclear Safety Administration approved the AP1000 units in December 2015 and confirmed the site location in October 2016. The construction of Phase I was initially anticipated to begin in May 2017. However, CNNC later opted for the HPR1000 design instead. Two additional Hualong One units are scheduled for Phase II, with another two proposed for Phase III.
Construction of Zhangzhou Unit 1 commenced in October 2019, followed by Unit 2 starting in September 2020.
In September 2022, China's State Council greenlit the construction of two more Hualong One units as part of Phase II of the Zhangzhou project. The first concrete for the nuclear island of Unit 3 was poured on February 22 of the previous year, with Unit 4's concrete poured in October.
The process of loading 177 fuel assemblies into the core of Zhangzhou Unit 1 began on October 12, following the issuance of an operating license by China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The reactor achieved its first criticality on November 20 and was connected to the electrical grid on November 28.
According to CNNC, the commencement of commercial operations at Zhangzhou Unit 1 signifies significant progress in the mass construction of Hualong One reactors. The company plans to build a total of six such units at the location, with three additional units currently under construction.
The Zhangzhou project, which has an overall investment exceeding CNY100 billion (USD14 billion), is owned by CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, a partnership between CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%).
CNNC highlighted that the number of power reactors under its management has risen to 26, with the total installed capacity increasing from 23.75 GWe to 24.962 GWe.