China’s Zhangzhou nuclear power plant has achieved a critical step in advancing its Hualong-1 reactor technology, with the No. 2 Unit completing its hot functional test on Tuesday. This milestone paves the way for fuel loading and grid integration, setting the stage for commercial operations by late 2024.
The Hualong-1 reactor, a domestically developed third-generation nuclear design, underscores China’s progress in homegrown energy innovation. The hot test simulates real-world operating conditions, verifying the performance of both nuclear and conventional systems under thermal stress—a vital step ahead of full-scale operations.
Mei Bingyun, chief engineer at China National Nuclear Corporation Zhangzhou Energy Co., confirmed that fuel loading and grid connection will proceed as scheduled. Once operational, the No. 2 Unit is expected to join the plant’s No. 1 Unit, which has already entered commercial service, while construction continues on Units 3 and 4.
Upon completion, the six-unit facility will have a combined installed capacity of 7.2 million kilowatts. Each unit is projected to generate over 10 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, bolstering China’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions and meet renewable energy targets. Mei highlighted that Hualong-1 is now the world’s most widely deployed third-generation nuclear technology, signaling China’s rising competitiveness in the global energy sector.
As Asia’s energy demands grow, developments like the Zhangzhou plant offer insights into sustainable infrastructure investments and technological advancements driving the region’s green transition.
