China begins building nuclear reactor with 52 billion kWh annual output
The Lufeng nuclear power plant will significantly reduce the country’s reliance on coal for power.
China has officially begun construction on its first nuclear reactor unit of the year with the pouring of first concrete at the Lufeng Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong province.
The milestone, completed on Monday, marks the official start of the plant’s No. 1 reactor, which utilizes the CAP1000 third-generation pressurized water reactor (PWR) design.
According to China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN), the CAP1000 design incorporates modular construction, digital building technologies, and automated welding to improve safety and efficiency.
As reported by China Daily, the plant will eventually house six reactors, with Units 5 and 6 already under construction since 2022 and 2023, respectively. These latter units employ Hualong One, China’s domestically designed third-generation nuclear technology.
Nuclear reactors and power plants: A large-scale clean energy project
Once fully operational, the Lufeng nuclear power plant is expected to generate approximately 52 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity annually. This output will help reduce China’s reliance on coal, saving an estimated 15.77 million metric tons of standard coal per year and cutting carbon dioxide emissions by around 42.69 million tons.