China’s landmark move to reach carbon neutrality

 
The world's largest base for China's third-generation Hualong One nuclear reactors in Zhangzhou, southeast Fujian Province, has hit a milestone in the country's clean energy transition, reports CGTN. It’s a landmark move on part of China.

Unit 2 of the China National Nuclear Corporation's Zhangzhou Nuclear Power Plant began its first nuclear fuel loading today.

China is a world leader in clean energy, dominating global manufacturing of green technologies like solar panels and wind turbines, and making rapid progress in renewable electricity generation. Despite its large coal use, the country is heavily investing in wind, solar, and nuclear power to meet its goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2060, and its clean energy exports are helping other nations cut their own emissions.

This stage marks the dividing line between non-nuclear and nuclear testing in nuclear power project construction, and is one of the most important steps before a unit is connected to grid for power generation.

The year 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of the commencement of the construction of the world's first Hualong One project. As China's independently developed third-generation nuclear technology, the Hualong One sets a benchmark with a 68.7-month construction period for its first unit, making it the only third-generation nuclear project delivered on schedule in the world. The demonstration project has won the National Quality Engineering Award, with its two units scoring a perfect 100 in the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) evaluation. Together, they have generated nearly 65 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and are approaching 1,000 days of safe and stable operation.

The Hualong One has demonstrated outstanding performance globally, reaching an internationally advanced level. It has not only laid a solid foundation for future large-scale deployment, but also showcased the reliability of China's independently developed third-generation nuclear technology. The Hualong One offers a replicable solution for countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.

A result of China's thirty-year experience in nuclear power research, design, manufacturing, construction and operation, the Hualong One is independently developed with advanced million-kilowatt pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power technology. It meets the latest and highest global safety standards, with exclusive intellectual property rights. Currently, the Hualong One has become the mainstream reactor type in nuclear power development, with a total of 41 units approved, under construction, or already in operation worldwide.

China’s push to meet both domestic and global demand for renewable energy technology to achieve carbon neutrality has led to massive overcapacity. By pivoting investment from renewable energy capacity to power-grid upgrades and equipment, China can shore up an otherwise underwhelming domestic economy, keep on track for its net-zero emissions targets and relieve geopolitical pressures.