Beijing aiming for mass deployment of indigenous Hualong One technology
Unit 2 of the Zhangzhou nuclear power station in Fujian Province, eastern China, has been successfully connected to the grid for the first time, state media outlets and the Chinea Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) reported.
CNEA said the move is a major step forward in the mass deployment of China’s indigenous Hualong One reactor technology.
After the initial grid-connection test on Saturday, onsite checks confirmed that the unit was operating stably and that all technical indicators met design standards, CNEA said.
The reactor will now undergo a series of scheduled tests to further verify its performance and ensure it meets all conditions for commercial operation,
Zhangzhou-2 is a 1,126-MW domestic Hualong One, or HPR1000, pressurised water reactor (PWR) unit. Construction began in September 2020.
CNEA said the Zhangzhou nuclear station will eventually have six Hualong One reactor units.
In January 2025, Zhangzhou-1 became the first and only unit so far to start commercial operation at the site.
Construction of Zhangzhou-3 began in February 2024 and of Zhangzhou-4 in September 2024.
The Zhangzhou project is owned by CNNC-Guodian Zhangzhou Energy Company, a joint venture between CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corporation (49%).
The Hualong One, also known as the HPR1000, is a domestically developed PWR that combines features from China National Nuclear Corporation’s ACP1000 and China General Nuclear’s ACPR1000+ designs.
According to International Atomic Energy Agency data, China has 29 reactors under construction, 14 of which are of the Hualong One design.
Two additional Hualong One units are reportedly under construction at Jinqimen and one CAP1000 at Lufeng, but these three units are not listed by the IAEA.
If these units are taken into account, the number of reactors under construction in China – including Zhaoyuan-1 and Sanao-3 – is now 34, with 18 being Hualong One designs.
