Tianwan-6, a 1000-MW domestically-designed ACPR1000 pressurised water reactor, becomes China National Nuclear Corporation's (CNNC) 24th commercial reactor and brings the company's installed generating capacity from 21.3 GW to 22.5 GW (gross).
According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, China has 50 nuclear reactors in commercial operation and 14 under construction, although the agency still lists Tianwan-6 as “under construction”. Nuclear provides about 5% of the country’s electricity generation.
Construction of the plant began in September 2016 and fuel loading took place in April followed by grid connection in May.
Tianwan-5, another unit of the same design, began commercial operation on 8 September 2020. There are also four Russia-supplied VVER-1000 nuclear units in commercial operation at the Tianwan site.
The Tianwan plant is owned and operated by Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation, a joint venture between China national Nuclear Corporation (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%).
In Beijing’s latest five-year plan – which set out China’s economic and development goals for the five years from 2021 – the government said it aims to have 70 GW of installed nuclear capacity by 2025 from about 50 GW at the end of 2019. That would equate to about 20 new reactors, 2021-2025, although China already has 14 under construction.
