China's Nuclear Power Grows Stronger with New Milestone

The second unit of the Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant in Guangdong Province officially began commercial operation on Monday, marking the completion of the project’s first phase. The plant is the first in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area to adopt the Hualong One, a third-generation nuclear reactor independently developed by China. Zhang Guoqiang, chairman of CGN Huizhou Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., stated that the two units in the first phase are expected to generate over 18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. This output is sufficient to meet the power needs of nearly 2 million residents while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 16.63 million tonnes per year. Located in Huidong County, Huizhou City, the Taipingling plant’s first unit began operating in April 2026, and the project is planned to eventually host a total of six reactor units. Zhang noted that the Hualong One technology meets the highest global safety standards and represents a significant milestone in China’s nuclear power industry. The plant is expected to enhance clean energy supply and support carbon reduction efforts in the southern region. Analysts view the completion of the first phase as a strategic move to strengthen energy security in the Greater Bay Area, contributing to Beijing’s ‘dual carbon’ goals of peaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. The Chinese government aims to establish a clean, low-carbon, safe, and efficient new energy system by 2030, with plans to proactively and prudently develop nuclear power while prioritising safety. Under these targets, China’s operational nuclear power capacity is expected to reach approximately 110 gigawatts by 2030. By the end of 2025, the country had 112 nuclear power units either in operation, under construction, or approved for construction. During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the number of commercially operational nuclear reactors in China is projected to exceed 100, further solidifying the nation’s position as a major global force in nuclear energy development.