New Chinese reactors reach start-up milestones

According to World Nuclear Association figures, China's total installed nuclear generating capacity has now increased to 63.98 GWe, moving ahead of France's 63 GW for the first time and putting it second only to the USA's 96.9 GWe.

On 1 August, Changjiang unit 3 was "successfully connected to the grid, and the first kilowatt-hour of clean electricity was generated here, flowing into thousands of homes", China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said. "With stable parameters and good operating condition, the unit has officially entered the load-bearing trial operation phase, marking a crucial step towards commercial operation."

Two Hualong One pressurised water reactors (PWRs) are being constructed in the second phase of the Changjiang plant. First concrete was poured for the base slab of unit 3's nuclear island in March 2021, with that of unit 4 being poured in the December of that year. Changjiang Phase II - units 3 and 4 - represents a total estimated investment of CNY40 billion (USD5.9 billion), according to China Huaneng, which holds a 51% share in the project. Both units are scheduled to be fully operational in early 2027.

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Changjiang 3 achieved first criticality - a sustained chain reaction - on 10 July.

The Changjiang nuclear site is already home to two operating CNP-600 PWRs - Changjiang 1 and 2 - which entered commercial operation in 2015 and 2016, respectively. In 2021, CNNC also began construction of a demonstration ACP100 small modular reactor at the site. The multi-purpose 125 MWe PWR - also referred to as the Linglong One - is designed for electricity production, heating, steam production or seawater desalination. It is currently undergoing pre-commissioning tests.

Read more: China approves construction of eight more reactors

The island province of Hainan is China's southernmost point. Energy policies published in 2019 by Hainan Province Development and Reform Commission specify that nuclear power will become the primary source of electricity for the island, which has a population of close to 10 million.

Taipingling unit 2

Unit 2 of the Taipingling nuclear power plant has entered commercial operation, China General Nuclear (CGN) announced. The unit is the second of six Hualong One reactors planned for the site in Guangdong province.

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The unit "completed all commissioning works on 3 August 2026, and is qualified for commercial operation", CGN said in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. These works included a series of commissioning tests, including a test run lasting 168 hours.

Taipingling 2 received an operating licence from China's National Nuclear Safety Administration on 30 April. The loading of a total of 177 fuel assemblies was completed on 3 May. It attained first criticality on 25 June. The 1,116 MWe (net) PWR was connected to the grid on 4 July.

The Taipingling plant will eventually have six Hualong One reactors, with a total investment exceeding CNY120 billion (USD17 billion). The construction of the first and second units began in 2019 and 2020, respectively. Hot testing of unit 1 was completed in September 2024, with that of unit 2 completed in July 2025. Unit 1 attained first criticality on 3 February this year and was connected to the grid on 13 February. It entered commercial operation on 19 April.

Construction of the second phase of the Taipingling plant - units 3 and 4 - was approved by China's State Council in December 2023, with construction of unit 3 getting under way in June last year. The first nuclear safety-related concrete for the reactor building of unit 4 was poured in May. The State Council approved the construction of units 5 and 6 on 31 July.

Once all six units are completed and put into operation, the annual power generation will exceed 55 billion kilowatt-hours, CGN said. It will also reduce standard coal consumption by about 16.65 million tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by about 50.82 million tonnes annually.

"After Taipingling unit 2 is put into commercial operation, the number of nuclear power generating units in operation managed by the company (including associates) will increase to 31 units and the installed capacity of nuclear power generating units in operation will also increase from 34,248 MW to 35,450 MW," CGN said.