{"id":34579,"date":"2025-11-21T11:09:47","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T11:09:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metaverseplanet.net\/blog\/?p=34579"},"modified":"2026-01-05T12:28:16","modified_gmt":"2026-01-05T12:28:16","slug":"new-7-2-gw-nuclear-power-plant-from-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metaverseplanet.net\/blog\/new-7-2-gw-nuclear-power-plant-from-china\/","title":{"rendered":"New 7.2 GW Nuclear Power Plant from China"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN)<\/strong> has officially started the construction of a giant energy project in East China’s Shandong Province<\/strong>. The Zhaoyuan Nuclear<\/a><\/em> Power Plant<\/strong>, once completed, will generate approximately 50 billion kilowatt-hours<\/strong> of electricity annually, meeting the residential energy needs of 5 million people<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The facility will save 15.27 million tons<\/strong> of coal annually and reduce carbon dioxide emissions<\/strong> by 46.2 million tons<\/strong>. Experts evaluate the environmental benefit<\/strong> of this reduction as equivalent to planting over 110,000 hectares<\/strong> of forest. A total of six Hualong One reactors<\/strong> are planned for the plant site, and the facility’s total installed capacity<\/strong> will be approximately 7.2 GW<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Innovative Cooling Tower Active for the First Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Concrete pouring<\/strong> for the first unit of construction began last Tuesday. This process symbolizes the first use of a 203-meter high natural draft cooling tower<\/strong> for the Hualong One reactor<\/strong> model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 16,800 square meter<\/strong> spraying area allows the facility to shift its primary cooling source<\/strong> from the sea to the atmosphere<\/strong>. Shandong Zhaoyuan Nuclear Power Company<\/strong> Executive Director Yu Xiangdong<\/strong> stated that this innovation reduces energy<\/a><\/em> consumption<\/strong> and enables the reuse of water resources<\/strong>. As is known, traditional plant designs typically require installation in coastal regions<\/strong> since seawater<\/strong> is available there. However, China’s new design represents a strategic departure<\/strong> from seawater-based cooling systems. “Secondary circuit cooling technology<\/strong>” increases the facility’s flexibility by utilizing the atmospheric heat sink<\/strong> effect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The power plant is also equipped with a “natural + mechanical<\/strong>” dual-layer safety system<\/strong>. CGN Power Engineering<\/strong>‘s Deputy General Manager Yang Yazhang<\/strong> explained that the natural draft tower could maintain operations for at least two hours<\/strong> even if the external water supply<\/strong> is cut off, providing sufficient time for a safe shutdown<\/strong>. Additionally, the facility will be equipped with a large water tank<\/strong>. This tank will be able to sustain reactor cooling<\/strong> for 30 days<\/strong> without water replenishment<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nuclear Breakthrough in China<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Meanwhile, Hualong One<\/strong> is a third-generation pressurized water reactor (PWR)<\/strong> developed with China’s completely domestic design<\/strong>. With a design life<\/strong> of 60 years, the reactor operates on an 18-month fuel cycle<\/strong> and can provide around 1100 MW<\/strong> of net electricity generation. Today, 41 Hualong One units<\/strong> are in the construction or operation phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to the China National Energy Administration<\/strong>, the country has approved an average of 10 new nuclear units<\/strong> per year since 2022, and currently, 59 units<\/strong> are in operation, while 53 units<\/strong> are under construction. The total installed capacity<\/strong> has exceeded 125 million kilowatts<\/strong>, ranking first globally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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