State Council Approves Four Nuclear Power Projects, Eight Units Granted Construction Approval

On July 31, the State Council's executive meeting decided to approve a total of 8 units across Phase II of Jinqimen Nuclear Power in Zhejiang, Phase III of Taipingling Nuclear Power in Guangdong, Phase I of Zhuanghe Nuclear Power in Liaoning, and Phase I of Laiyang Nuclear Power in Shandong. The meeting noted that nuclear power units should be constructed and operated in accordance with the highest global safety standards, with strengthened safety oversight across the entire chain and all sectors, to ensure absolute nuclear safety.

It is reported that the 6 units of Phase II of Jinqimen Nuclear Power in Zhejiang, Phase III of Taipingling Nuclear Power in Guangdong, and Phase I of Zhuanghe Nuclear Power in Liaoning all adopt HPR1000 (Hualong One) nuclear power technology. Among them, Phase II of Jinqimen Nuclear Power in Zhejiang and Phase III of Taipingling Nuclear Power in Guangdong have been designated as demonstration projects for HPR1000 Version 2.0.

Exterior view of CNNC's Jinqimen Nuclear Power Project

HPR1000 is a 1000 MW-class Generation III pressurized water reactor nuclear power technology with fully independent intellectual property rights, developed by CNNC and CGN based on China's more than 40 years of experience in nuclear power R&D, design, manufacturing, construction, and operation. It is hailed as a "national calling card." HPR1000 Version 2.0 is an advanced "Generation III Plus" pressurized water reactor nuclear power technology launched through independent innovation and overall coordination, incorporating feedback from HPR1000 construction and operation experience. It represents a major milestone achievement in China's nuclear power transition from "overall parallel running" to "comprehensive parallel running with localized leadership."

HPR1000 Version 2.0 adopts Chinese standards, independently developed software, and optimized active and passive safety systems. It utilizes advanced technologies in intelligent control and modular construction, significantly reducing engineering workload while comprehensively enhancing safety, advancedness, and economic efficiency, resulting in stronger overall competitiveness.

Rendering of CNNC's Zhuanghe Nuclear Power Project site

To date, 10 HPR1000 units are in commercial operation both domestically and internationally, with another 37 units approved and under construction, keeping the total number firmly at the top among Generation III nuclear power reactors worldwide. The maturity of the technology has been verified through large-scale, batch construction and operation. A single HPR1000 unit has an annual designed power generation of nearly 10 billion kWh, sufficient to meet the annual production and living electricity needs of a medium-sized city with a population exceeding one million, equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by over 3 million tons and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by over 9 million tons annually. Meanwhile, the R&D and construction of HPR1000 have driven nearly 6,000 upstream and downstream enterprises to form a complete industrial chain supply system, effectively leading the upgrading of China's manufacturing industry.

As more HPR1000 units are successively completed and put into operation, they will further enhance the resilience and independence of China's energy supply, better serve the development of a new energy system and safeguard national energy security, while providing a smarter "China solution" for the global green and low-carbon energy transition.