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Environmental Impact Assessment for Site Selection of Haiyang Xin'an Nuclear Power Project in China Enters Pre-Approval Public Notice

Recently, the Environmental Impact Report for the Site Selection Phase of Units 1 and 2 of the Shandong Haiyang Xin'an Nuclear Power Project has entered the pre-approval public notice period. The project is located in Haiyang City, Shandong Province, and is being constructed by CNNC (Shandong) Second Nuclear Energy Co., Ltd. It plans to adopt two Hualong One Version 2.0 pressurized water reactor nuclear power units with a single-unit capacity of 1,220 megawatts, with a planned total installed capacity of 2,440 megawatts. This public notice centers on the environmental impact assessment at the site selection phase, disclosing the project overview, environmental protection measures, and public participation. The total project investment is approximately 44.5 billion yuan, of which environmental protection facility investment is approximately 1.236 billion yuan, accounting for 2.77% of the total investment. Environmental protection arrangements cover both construction and operation phases: during construction, measures such as water spraying for dust suppression...

2026-11-07

China's Qinshan Nuclear Power Expands Isotope Production and Medical Application Industry Chain

Recently, the commercial heavy water reactors at Qinshan Nuclear Power have been producing isotopes such as cobalt-60, carbon-14, lutetium-177, and yttrium-90 while continuing to supply electricity, expanding the comprehensive utilization pathways of nuclear power units. Qinshan possesses the only two commercial heavy water reactor units in China, with an annual power generation of approximately 12 billion kWh, and their reactor irradiation capability also provides production conditions for isotope preparation. Isotope production utilizes neutrons within the reactor to irradiate specially designed targets, forming target nuclides through nuclear reactions and subsequent decay. Different nuclides require different target materials, irradiation conditions, and processing procedures. After irradiation is completed, targets must undergo corresponding processing and quality inspection before entering subsequent product manufacturing...

2026-11-07

Radiant Microreactor Safety Analysis Report Approved by U.S. Department of Energy

Recently, U.S. microreactor developer Radiant Industries (Radiant) announced that the Safety Analysis Report (DSA) for its Kaleidos microreactor has been formally approved by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), granting permission for full-power operation. This important milestone marks the company's formal entry into the operational maturity review phase and its move to Idaho National Laboratory (INL) for comprehensive verification testing. This approval enables Radiant to successfully transition from theoretical design to a comprehensive multi-phase testing stage. Unlike conventional criticality tests that merely verify whether a controlled chain reaction can be maintained, this...

2026-11-07

Poured! "Chilong One"!

On November 6, the world's first large-scale coupling project between nuclear energy and the petrochemical industry achieved another important milestone: the first batch of concrete was poured for the nuclear island of the world's first commercial "Chilong One" high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. This is a major breakthrough in China's comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy, and an important practice of CNNC working with all parties to thoroughly implement General Secretary Xi Jinping's new energy security strategy of "Four Revolutions and One Cooperation," promote energy transition with new quality productive forces, and create a new calling card for China's nuclear energy. The Jiangsu Xuwei Nuclear Heating and Power Plant is the world's first large-scale coupling project between nuclear energy and the petrochemical industry, the world's first coupling project between a pressurized water reactor and a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor, and the world's first application project of the "reactor-turbine-heat" coordinated control mode...

2026-11-06

US Salem Nuclear Power Plant Plans 200 MW Capacity Uprate

Recently, Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) disclosed in its third-quarter earnings report and related regulatory filings that the Salem Nuclear Generating Station, located in Hancocks Bridge, New Jersey, plans to add approximately 200 MW of generating capacity through technological upgrades. As the 57% co-owner and operator of the dual-unit pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear plant, PSEG will receive approximately 112 MW of incremental generating share from the 200 MW capacity uprate, with the remaining share held by Constellation Ener...

2026-11-06

Haiyang Nuclear Power Phase III Commencement: From First Concrete to the Real Threshold of China's Batch Nuclear Power Construction

The moment a nuclear power plant first enters public view is often when concrete begins to be poured. The reactor pressure vessel is not yet on site, nor is the turbine operating, but rebar, embedded parts and construction equipment have already been organized according to design. Part of the structural foundation on which decades of subsequent operation depend begins to take shape here. On October 31, the nuclear island of Unit 5 at Shandong Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant began pouring first concrete, marking the commencement of the Haiyang Nuclear Power Phase III project. Phase III plans to build two units, Units 5 and 6, adopting domestically produced third-generation advanced passive pressurized water reactor technology. For a site that already has operating and under-construction units, the value brought by new units is not only future...

2026-11-06

Swiss Study Assesses Role of New Nuclear Power in Winter Supply Security

A recently highlighted Swiss energy system study evaluates new nuclear power as an option for long-term electricity supply and low-carbon transition. The study, commissioned by the Swiss Foundation for Technology Assessment (TA-SWISS), shows that under conditions such as timely commissioning, affordable costs and secured financing, new nuclear power plants can increase domestic low-carbon electricity supply, reduce import dependence, and complement renewable energy, grid and storage development. The study sets out three scenarios—open market, self-sufficiency and continuation of existing trends—to compare the impact of nuclear power on the energy system under different development pathways. In the open market scenario, without building new nuclear power plants, net electricity imports in the winter half-year in the longer term would be...

2026-11-06

Spain Successfully Develops AI Early Warning System for Algae at Nuclear Power Plants

Recently, Spanish energy services group GDES and the Asociación Nuclear Ascó-Vandellós II (ANAV) jointly announced that the two parties have successfully developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-based early warning system named iAlgae. The system is designed to monitor in real time the accumulation of planktonic vegetation and algae at the cooling water intake of nuclear power plants, marking an important breakthrough in O&M technology for nuclear facilities to cope with natural environmental interference. For power generation facilities that use natural surface water for cooling, the accumulation of algae and planktonic vegetation at water intakes is a common natural challenge. iAlgae ...

2026-11-06

China Xuwu Unit 3 Plans First Concrete Pour for Nuclear Island

Recently, Unit 3 of the Phase I project of the Jiangsu Xuwu Nuclear Heating and Power Plant has finalized the plan for the first concrete pour of the nuclear island, marking an important preparatory milestone for the project construction. The unit is constructed and operated by CNNC Suneng Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., which is controlled and invested by China National Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. The project intends to advance the main construction of the nuclear island through this engineering milestone, while the actual implementation status remains subject to confirmation by subsequent engineering information. Regulatory licensing has provided the prerequisite for the relevant construction. The National Nuclear Safety Administration completed the review of the application documents, issued a construction license to Unit 3, and through on-site readiness supervision and inspection, confirmed that the conditions for the first concrete pour of the nuclear island foundation are met, allowing the relevant work to proceed. The license...

2026-11-06

South China Regional Office and Zhanjiang Nuclear Power Conduct Regulatory Dialogue on Key Issues

Recently, the South China Regional Office of Nuclear and Radiation Safety Inspection of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and State Nuclear Power Zhanjiang Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. jointly held a regulatory dialogue on key issues. The principal responsible persons of the South China Regional Office, the principal responsible persons of Zhanjiang Nuclear Power, and relevant responsible persons of the general contracting unit attended the event. During the regulatory dialogue, the South China Regional Office comprehensively reported the prominent problems identified in recent supervisory inspections and the overall regulatory situation. Zhanjiang Nuclear Power and the general contracting unit respectively made detailed reports on the collaborative development of Party organization pairing, on-site resumption of work progress, the special nuclear safety management improvement action, and the special work plan and implementation progress for in-depth optimization of the design of Units 1 and 2 and subsequent units.

2026-11-06

U.S. Department of Energy Approves Antares Mark-1 Microreactor Nuclear Safety Design Agreement

Recently, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) formally approved the Nuclear Safety Design Agreement (NSDA) for the Mark-1 microreactor of nuclear energy startup Antares Nuclear (Antares), establishing official safety standards, design requirements, and regulatory framework for the reactor's subsequent construction and testing phases. It is reported that the Mark-1 is designed to achieve continuous power output, with its design integrating a full-scale core and TRISO fuel, and equipped with a nitrogen closed-cycle Brayton power conversion system. Prior to this, its predecessor Mark-0 achieved zero-power criticality in June 2026, successfully validating the core physics characteristics. With the approval of the NSDA, Antares is expected to...

2026-11-06

North China Regional Office of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment Conducts Pre-Criticality Inspection of Shidao Bay High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor

Recently, in order to effectively consolidate the primary responsibility of the operating unit, closely focus on the important milestone of criticality following the overhaul, and comprehensively drive the improvement of the safety level of the demonstration project, the North China Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (hereinafter referred to as the North China Supervision Station) organized and conducted the pre-criticality inspection of the reactor following the second overhaul of the High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Demonstration Project at the Huaneng Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Plant. As the world's first fourth-generation nuclear power plant independently developed by China with fully independent intellectual property rights, the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor holds milestone significance for China in achieving scientific and technological self-reliance and leading the world in nuclear energy technology. The North China Supervision Station deeply recognizes the major mission of supervising the world's first reactor of its kind, and has carried out coordinated planning and formulated...

2026-11-06

Two Types of I&C Equipment for China's Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 3 Pass Acceptance Synchronously

Recently, the "Longlin" safety-class and "Longqi" non-safety-class digital control system (DCS) equipment for Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Unit 3 completed factory acceptance synchronously. China Nuclear Power Engineering Co., Ltd., as the purchaser, organized and advanced the acceptance work for the two types of equipment, verifying the compliance of equipment technical specifications with design and engineering application requirements, laying the foundation for subsequent supply and on-site installation and commissioning. DCS performs monitoring, control and protection functions for relevant systems and equipment in nuclear power plants, and is an important component of the unit's instrumentation and control system. Safety-class and non-safety-class systems respectively undertake tasks of different safety levels, with different emphases in technical requirements, quality assurance and verification procedures. This synchronous org...

2026-11-05

UK Parliament Recommends Improving Fusion Planning Policy and Public Engagement Mechanisms

Recently, the House of Commons Energy Security and Net Zero Committee completed its scrutiny of the draft National Policy Statement for fusion energy EN-8, proposing recommendations including supplementary nuclear non-proliferation guidance, strengthened early public engagement, and clarified community benefit arrangements. The scrutiny focused on the institutional conditions required for fusion to develop from research devices to commercial facilities; the relevant opinions have been submitted for government response and do not yet constitute implemented new policy. Nuclear non-proliferation is a key area the Committee requires to be further improved. As fusion device scale expands, mechanisms for identifying and assessing facility-related risks also need to develop accordingly. The Committee recommends that the government provide guidance to developers preparing construction projects as soon as possible...

2026-11-05

Urenco USA Completes Production of First Commercial Upgraded Low-Enriched Uranium Product Cylinder

Recently, Urenco USA completed the production of its first upgraded low-enriched uranium (LEU+) product cylinder at the National Enrichment Facility in New Mexico, advancing this fuel feedstock from production readiness to the commercial product supply stage. This development provides a new enriched uranium option for operating light water reactors and some advanced reactors, but completing the production of enriched product does not equate to fuel assemblies having been manufactured or loaded into a reactor. LEU+ is Urenco's product name for enriched uranium with uranium-235 assays of approximately 5% to 10%, higher than the typical enrichment levels of fuel commonly used in operating commercial nuclear power plants. Fuel made from this material is expected to support longer operating cycles and reduce refueling outages...

2026-11-05