China launches CAP1400, flagship of its nuclear power sector

The first of two Guohe One demonstration reactors operated by Huaneng Group in China’s Shandong province has been connected to the grid. The 1,400 MWe CAP1400 pressurised water reactor is set to become the flagship of China’s nuclear power sector, for both domestic use and export.

At a press conference on 31 October, Dong Wancheng, deputy director of the Department of Development and Planning at the National Energy Administration (NEA), announced that the first CAP1400 unit at Shidaowan had been successfully connected to the power grid. The reactor will now undergo a gradual power-raising test and several verification stages before it is officially commissioned for commercial operation.

Environmental and energy benefits

Once it reaches its rated capacity, the reactor is expected to generate 11.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough to meet the needs of more than 11 million people and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 9 million tonnes a year.

“Since 2022, the start of construction has been approved for several more third-generation units in the CAP series under the auspices of State Power Investment Corporation. This type of nuclear reactor is expected to enter a peak construction phase in the coming years,” the NEA said.

Development of the CAP1400 reactor

The CAP1400 reactor is an enlarged version of the CAP1000 reactor, developed from Westinghouse’s original AP1000 reactor design with consulting support from the US company.

Research and development of the Guohe One reactor began in 2008. In December 2009, State Nuclear Plant Demonstration Company was established as a joint venture with a 55% stake held by State Power Investment Corp (SPIC) and a 45% stake held by China Huaneng Group. It was set up to build and operate two CAP1400 demonstration units at the Shidaowan site in the city of Rongcheng. SPIC officially launched the CAP1400 reactor project in September 2020.

Construction and operating schedule

Construction of the first unit began in June 2019, followed by the second unit in April 2020. Construction of each reactor is expected to take 56 months, with the timeframe for subsequent units expected to fall to 50 months.

The National Nuclear Safety Administration issued an operating licence for the first Guohe One demonstration reactor in late July this year.

International safety certification

In May 2016, the CAP1400 design successfully passed the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Generic Reactor Safety Review. The review is not an approval process, but assesses the quality of safety documentation and identifies strengths, weaknesses and gaps.

International use of the CAP1400 reactor will continue to depend on meeting the specific standards and requirements of individual countries, but completing the IAEA safety review will make this process easier.