Nuclear power has become a cornerstone in the transformation of China's energy mix.
A new nuclear power unit was successfully synchronized to the grid for the first time at 9:16 a.m. on July 4th. The unit, identified as No. 2 at the Taipingling nuclear power project in Guangdong, generated its first kilowatt-hour of electricity. This milestone signifies that the second reactor at this major nuclear power base, which is the first of its kind in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, is now capable of supplying power to the electrical grid, moving it closer to full commercial operation.
The construction of the Taipingling project's second unit began on October 15, 2020. Following the grid connection, on-site verification confirmed the unit is operating stably, with all technical parameters meeting design expectations. The unit will now undergo a series of planned tests to further validate its performance, with full commercial operation anticipated in the second half of 2026.
According to the project's leadership, based on the projected average annual operating hours for domestic nuclear power plants in 2025, the second unit is expected to generate over 9 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually once fully operational. This output can meet the annual electricity consumption needs for production and daily life for nearly one million people and is equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 8.3 million tonnes per year.
The Taipingling nuclear power project is planned to host a total of six nuclear power units, representing a total investment estimated to exceed 120 billion yuan, averaging over 20 billion yuan per unit. The project is being constructed in three phases, with four units currently approved.
The commencement of construction for the project's fourth unit reflects Guangdong province's active pursuit of nuclear energy development. The province's 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly advocates for a diversified energy mix, including wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear power, with a strong emphasis on developing non-fossil fuel energy sources. Specifically for nuclear power, the plan calls for the "active, safe, and orderly development of nuclear energy," efficiently advancing projects like Taipingling, Lufeng, and Lianjiang, actively planning for next-generation nuclear technology, and promoting a continuous, rolling development cycle for nuclear power projects.
In the context of China's dual carbon goals, nuclear power has solidified its role as a pillar of the nation's energy transition. On June 25th, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly released a key plan for building a new energy system, which outlines requirements to "actively, safely, and orderly develop nuclear power... maintaining a steady pace of nuclear power construction." The plan also sets a clear overall target of achieving approximately 110 gigawatts of installed nuclear power capacity in operation by 2030.
Based on a standard unit capacity of 1 gigawatt, the 110-gigawatt target is roughly equivalent to 110 nuclear power units of that size.
By the end of 2025, the total installed nuclear power capacity in operation across the country stood at 62.52 gigawatts.
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