China's Hualong One nuclear unit enters commercial operation in Hainan

The first Hualong One nuclear power unit in the Hainan Free Trade Port, south China's Hainan Province, officially entered commercial operation on Thursday, marking a new step in the island's clean energy development.

The No. 3 unit of the Huaneng Changjiang Nuclear Power Phase II project is located in Changjiang Li Autonomous County in Hainan Province. The project is designed to include two 1.2-million-kilowatt nuclear power units – No. 3 and No. 4.

The No. 4 unit completed its cold functional test on September 7 and is expected to begin commercial operation in August 2027.

Once both units are in operation, the project is expected to save more than 6.3 million tonnes of standard coal annually, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 11.68 million tonnes each year. They are estimated to supply around 18 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to support the energy needs of one-third of Hainan's population.

The No. 3 unit is equipped with China's independently developed third-generation pressurized water reactor technology, Hualong One. It also adopts the country's first nuclear power production management system compatible with both commercial pressurized water reactors and fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactors. Through domestic adaptation, the system has achieved full independent control.

After entering operation, the No. 3 unit is expected to provide about 9 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually to Hainan.