Search Results

SPIC Shandong Nuclear Power's Total Intellectual Property Achievements Surpass 1,000

Recently, the total intellectual property achievements of SPIC Group Shandong Nuclear Power surpassed 1,000, and the company was also recognized as a "Yantai Intellectual Property Advantage Enterprise." It is reported that these 1,000 achievements include over 800 patents (including 5 international patents), 194 software copyrights and work copyrights, and 3 registered trademarks. Focusing on the new scenario of nuclear energy heating, Shandong Nuclear Power has formed over 100 patent achievements covering key areas such as system design, equipment optimization, and operation control, promoting clean nuclear energy's transition from power generation to heating, and creating China's first nuclear energy comprehensive utilization brand, "Nuanhe No.1." Focusing on the technical breakthrough of reheat control valves in the conventional island under the large-scale heating scenario of AP/CAP1000 pressurized water reactor nuclear power plants, the company has overcome key technical challenges and formed a series of patent achievements, supporting the innovative development of nuclear power equipment. The main pump frequency converter is known as the "heart" of nuclear power operation. Around its technical breakthroughs, the company has established a patent portfolio, driving control optimization and equipment reliability improvement, providing strong support for innovation in nuclear power equipment.

2026-08-17

UK National Nuclear Laboratory Secures Nuclear Safeguards Programme Contract

The UK National Nuclear Laboratory (UKNNL) has been awarded the Nuclear Safeguards Programme (NSP) contract by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). The contract has an initial term of 3.5 years with committed funding of £10.5 million, with the possibility of further extensions. This contract continues the UK's 45 years of support for the global nuclear safeguards system, as well as the UK National Nuclear Laboratory's nearly 20 years of core work within that system. The UK National Nuclear Laboratory's responsibilities include providing technical support to the UK government in the nuclear field and driving the development of the UK's nuclear energy industry. The Nuclear Safeguards Programme is an important platform for fulfilling this responsibility, primarily providing nuclear safeguards and non-proliferation expertise to UK government departments and international partners...

2026-08-16

Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant: Türkiye's Gateway to the Nuclear Supply Chain and a Platform for Long-Term Technology Acquisition

On August 15, Professor Şer Ergun, Head of the Nuclear Engineering Department at Hacettepe University, commented on the commissioning progress of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant in Mersin Province, emphasizing the project's strategic and technical significance for Türkiye. She noted that the VVER-1200 technology used at Akkuyu is operational in multiple countries worldwide, and Türkiye is seizing this opportunity to operate modern reactor technology while accumulating nuclear knowledge and experience and strengthening international cooperation through collaboration with other VVER-1200 user countries. She also stressed that Turkish engineers should actively participate in similar projects. Ergun stated that Akkuyu's value should not be assessed solely from the perspective of power generation, but also from its contribution to the nuclear technology ecosystem. The project provides...

2026-08-16

SPIC Haiyang Nuclear Power Unit 3 Hot Functional Test Successfully Completed

At 17:30 on August 13, the hot functional test (HFT) of Unit 3 at SPIC Shandong Nuclear Power Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant was successfully completed, laying a solid foundation for subsequent fuel loading and first grid connection of the unit. ▲Aerial view of Shandong Nuclear Power Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant. The hot functional test is the most critical non-nuclear comprehensive verification phase before nuclear fuel loading, often referred to as the "final exam" or "mock exam" before a nuclear power plant officially generates electricity. By executing a series of tests simulating actual operating conditions within the pressure and temperature ranges of normal reactor operation, it comprehensively verifies the reliability of nuclear island and conventional island systems and equipment under hot operating conditions, ensuring that relevant parameters meet design requirements. ▲On July 4, during the normal residual heat removal system (RNS) test at the heat-up platform of the hot functional test...

2026-08-15

Lucideon Plans £500 Million UK CMC Manufacturing Facility to Strengthen Aerospace, Defense, and Nuclear Supply Chains

UK materials science consultancy Lucideon plans to build a manufacturing and R&D facility for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) at Keele University Science Park, with total project investment expected to exceed £500 million over the next 7 to 10 years. The plan aims to address the UK's capability gap in high-temperature ceramics and industrial-scale CMC manufacturing, serving key industries such as aerospace, defense, and nuclear energy, while enhancing the UK's autonomy and competitiveness in the global advanced materials supply chain. Ceramic matrix composites, consisting of ceramic fibers reinforcing a ceramic matrix, can withstand ultra-high temperatures, thermal shock, and mechanical impact, while offering weight reduction advantages over metallic materials, driving growing demand in high-performance engines, thermal protection...

2026-08-16

Spain Extends Almaraz Nuclear Power Plant Operation to June 2030

The Spanish government has issued an order in the official gazette extending the operation of the Almaraz nuclear power plant to June 2030. Under Spain's previously established nuclear phase-out schedule, the two units at Almaraz were originally slated to begin decommissioning in 2027 and 2028, respectively. The document indicates that this extension does not alter the decommissioning plans for Spain's other nuclear plants. Spain plans to gradually shut down its five domestic nuclear plants by 2035. However, some analysts believe that, influenced by actual decommissioning arrangements and power system demands, other nuclear plants may also receive life extensions in the future. In April of this year, a large-scale blackout occurred in Spain and Portugal, sparking external...

2026-08-15

Polish Energy Ministry Moves PLN 3 Billion in First Nuclear Power Plant Construction Spending Out of 2026 Budget

The Polish Energy Ministry has deferred PLN 3 billion in spending earmarked for the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant. This change indicates that while the Polish nuclear power project remains a key component of the national energy strategy, it is facing adjustment pressures in budget execution, engineering preparation, and project milestone alignment during actual implementation. The core context behind Poland's construction of its first nuclear power plant is its long-standing reliance on coal-fired power generation, coupled with the dual constraints of EU emission reduction targets and energy security needs. Developing nuclear power is seen as an important pathway for Poland to reduce its share of fossil fuels, stabilize electricity supply, and decrease dependence on external energy sources. Therefore, changes to the relevant budget are not merely a fiscal arrangement...

2026-08-14

Polish President Signs Key Nuclear Power Bill, Allowing Early Construction Works to Start Ahead of Schedule

Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed an amendment to the Act on the Preparation and Implementation of Nuclear Energy Facilities and Associated Investments on August 14, aiming to accelerate the construction of nuclear power plants in the country. According to information released by the Presidential Chancellery, the core of this legal adjustment is to allow certain preliminary construction and preparation works to proceed before the final construction permit for the entire project is granted, thereby shortening the timeline for large-scale nuclear projects. The amendment concerns Polish laws related to the preparation and implementation of nuclear energy facilities and associated investments. The new regulations introduce a new type of permit, namely the permit for preliminary construction works of nuclear energy facilities. Once this permit is obtained, the investor can carry out some early-stage construction and preparation works before all complete project investment documents have been fully approved.

2026-08-14

Finland's Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor reduces output by 450 MW due to fault

Finland's largest nuclear reactor, Olkiluoto 3 (OL3), is currently operating at a reduced power level of approximately 300 MW. The unit's normal net power output is around 1,600 MW, and its generation accounts for about 14% of Finland's total electricity demand. According to Teollisuuden Voima (TVO), as reported by Tekniikka & Talous, the power reduction is due to a fault in one of the reactor-side circulation pumps. The damaged circulation pump has been repaired and is under monitoring, and the power level of Unit 3 is expected to return to normal on August 18. The circulation pump's function is to circulate cooling water through the reactor core. Meanwhile, Olkiluoto 2 has also been operating at a reduced power level of approximately 155 MW since mid-July...

2026-08-14

Finnish family-owned company Halton Group secures major order for UK's Sizewell C nuclear power project

Finnish family-owned company Halton Group has secured a significant order for the UK's Sizewell C nuclear power project, and will supply related equipment or systems for the construction of this large-scale nuclear power plant. The project has an installed capacity of 3.2 gigawatts, with the order value reaching the tens of millions of euros level. For an industrial company from Finland, this is not only a major breakthrough in a single project, but also demonstrates its competitiveness in the supply chain of high-demand energy infrastructure. Sizewell C is one of the key projects advancing the UK's new generation of nuclear power construction. Against the backdrop of Europe's energy structure adjustment and rising demand for low-carbon electricity, large-scale nuclear power plants have once again become an option for multiple countries to ensure power security and meet emission reduction targets.

2026-08-14

First unit of Türkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant expected to generate power within months

Turkish Energy Minister Alparslan Bayraktar stated on August 13 at the Bosphorus Diplomatic Forum held in Istanbul that the first reactor at Türkiye's Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant is expected to begin generating electricity within the coming months. Bayraktar said that four reactors are currently being constructed simultaneously at the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant, and Türkiye hopes to achieve power generation from the plant's first unit in the coming months. He noted that developing nuclear power has been a long-term goal for Türkiye, and the Akkuyu project will bring Türkiye into the ranks of countries utilizing nuclear energy. Previously, Bayraktar had stated that Türkiye plans to launch the first power unit of the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant by the end of this year...

2026-08-14

Finland's Onkalo Spent Nuclear Fuel Final Disposal Facility Expected to Receive Operating License by Year-End

Finland's spent nuclear fuel final disposal project has entered the critical stage of operating license review. The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) issued a statement saying that the design and emergency response procedures of the Onkalo final disposal facility meet the safety requirements for granting an operating license. The Finnish government is expected to decide whether to approve the facility's operation before the end of the year. Onkalo is located on Olkiluoto Island in southwestern Finland. "Onkalo" means "cave" in Finnish. If licensed and operational, the facility will become the world's first deep geological final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants, serving as a reference for other countries considering similar facilities...

2026-08-14

CGN Dasheng Launches BV Cable X-Ray Thickness Gauge for Full Online Inspection of Cable Insulation Layers

CGN Dasheng Accelerator Technology Co., Ltd. recently announced that its BV cable X-ray thickness gauge can be used for online inspection of insulation layers during cable production. The system employs X-ray technology to perform real-time measurement of key parameters such as cable outer diameter, inner diameter, wall thickness, eccentricity, and concentricity, replacing the potential detection blind spots inherent in traditional sampling inspection methods. In cable production, insulation layer thickness directly affects product safety and material utilization. Traditional inspection typically relies on sample cutting, manual measurement, and recording, with limited inspection frequency. If issues such as uneven wall thickness or eccentricity occur during production, they are often difficult to detect in a timely manner, which also hinders subsequent quality traceability and process adjustment. According to the company, the equipment...

2026-08-14

Hinkley Point C Nuclear Power Station Advances CCNSG Safety Passport Collaboration to Ensure Site Safety During Peak Construction

Hinkley Point C (HPC) nuclear power station in the UK is deepening its collaboration with the Client Contractor National Safety Group (CCNSG) to safeguard thousands of workers on site during the peak construction phase. Located in Somerset, the project is progressively transitioning from civil works to mechanical and electrical installation, placing greater demands on unified safety access standards and workforce competency. The CCNSG Safety Passport scheme, delivered by the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), has been operating in the engineering construction industry for over 30 years, with more than 85,500 active cardholders. The scheme is industry-led and continuously overseen by a relevant committee, of which Hinkley Point C is a member.

2026-08-13

Türkiye Maps Out Small Modular Reactors, Targeting 5,000 MW Installed Capacity by 2050

Türkiye is positioning small modular reactors (SMRs) as a new breakthrough in its nuclear energy strategy. Under relevant plans, Türkiye aims to achieve approximately 5,000 MW of SMR installed capacity by 2050, a scale that would surpass the Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant project. For Türkiye, which has long sought to reduce its external energy dependence, SMRs are seen as a strategic opportunity combining energy security, industrial upgrading, and technological competitiveness. Compared with traditional large-scale nuclear power plants, SMRs feature smaller installed capacity and more flexible deployment, typically ranging from 10 MW to 300 MW; micro modular reactors below 10 MW are even smaller and can be transported by truck. Reports note that such reactors can be deployed in...

2026-08-13