Taipingling Unit 1 Connects to Grid, Supplying Power for First Time
Updated Published Cached
_21845.jpg)
Unit 1 supplies electricity to grid for first time – China General Nuclear announced that the reactor was “successfully connected to the grid and generated its first kilowatt‑hour of electricity” on 13 February, marking the inaugural power output of the first of six planned Hualong One reactors at the Guangdong site[1].
Licence granted and fuel loaded in December, first criticality in February – The Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued an operating licence on 24 December 2025; the same day the National Nuclear Safety Administration approved loading of 177 fuel assemblies, and the reactor achieved first criticality on 3 February 2026[1].
1116 MWe pressurised water reactor pending commercial start – The net‑capacity reactor will enter commercial operation after completing commissioning tests, including a 168‑hour test scheduled for the first half of 2026[1].
Projected annual output to cut coal use and emissions – CGN estimates unit 1 will generate about 8.1 billion kWh of clean electricity each year, avoiding roughly 2.45 million tonnes of coal consumption and 7.48 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions in the Greater Bay Area[1].
Six‑reactor plant to cost over CNY 120 billion – Construction of units 1 and 2 began in 2019 and 2020; hot testing finished in September 2024 (unit 1) and July 2025 (unit 2). The total investment exceeds CNY 120 billion (≈ USD 17 billion)[1].
Second phase approved, unit 3 under construction – China’s State Council approved units 3 and 4 in December 2023, and construction of unit 3 started in June 2025, expanding the plant toward its six‑reactor plan[1].
- China General Nuclear (CGN) – “The grid connection of Taipingling nuclear power plant unit 1 is not only an important achievement in China's independent development of nuclear power, but also fills the gap in the independent operation of third‑generation nuclear power in the Guangdong‑Hong Kong‑Macao Greater Bay Area.”
- CGN (project estimate) – “It is estimated that after unit 1 is put into operation, it can provide approximately 8.1 billion kilowatt‑hours of clean energy electricity to the Greater Bay Area annually, equivalent to reducing standard coal consumption by approximately 2.45 million tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 7.48 million tonnes.”