29 Oct (NucNet): The Tianwan-4 nuclear power unit in Jiangsu province, eastern China, has begun test operation with the first kilowatt-hours of electricity delivered to the grid, Russian state nuclear operator Rosatom said.
According to Rosatom, which is providing the Russian VVER-1000 pressurised water reactor unit, Tianwan-4 was brought to 25% of its thermal power capacity of 3,000 MW thermal and the electrical generator successfully synchronised to the grid.
Rosatom said the next steps will be to increase electrical power level to 20%, 50%, 75% and 100%, with a number of system tests to be carried out before the unit can go commercial.
Construction of the 990-MW (net) Tianwan-4 began in September 2013. Fuel loading was completed on 2 September 2018 and first criticality achieved earlier this month.
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, there are four VVER-1000 nuclear units at Tianwan. The first three units are already in commercial operation.
There are also two domestically developed CNP-1000 PWRs, Tianwan-5 and -6, under construction at the site.
