Unit 2 of China General Nuclear Power Group's (CGN) Taipingling nuclear power project in Huizhou City, south China's Guangdong was officially put into operation on Monday, completing Phase I construction of the country's first Hualong One model nuclear project in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) city cluster in south China.
The newly commissioned Unit 2 adopts Hualong One, a domestically developed third-generation reactor design. Over 90 percent of its core equipment is made domestically, and the unit boasts a rated electrical capacity of 1,200 megawatts.
"After full completion of Phase I construction, the two units are projected to generate more than 18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. The output can cover the power demand for industrial and residential use of nearly two million people. The facility will strongly back China's drive to build itself into a powerful energy nation, facilitate energy transition in Guangdong Province, and supply robust 'nuclear power' for green, low-carbon, and high-quality development of the Greater Bay Area," said Zhang Guoqiang, general commander of Taipingling nuclear power project.
The nuclear complex is planned to host six Hualong One reactor units. Once all six units are finished, the plant will be capable of supplying roughly 55 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity each year. This will cut coal consumption by an estimated 16.52 million tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 50.82 million tons annually.
"Next, we will work closely with the operations and maintenance teams to further strengthen monitoring and inspection of the units' systems and equipment, safeguard nuclear safety, and ensure safe and stable operation of the two units at Phase I of the Taipingling project," said Li Wei, member of the operation department of CGN Huizhou Nuclear Power Co., Ltd.
Unit 2 of China's Taipingling nuclear power project put into operation
