China signs contract to build new Xuwei nuclear power plant

China has signed a contract to build the conventional islands for three nuclear reactors at the new Xuwei power plant. In its first phase, the Xuwei nuclear power plant will comprise two third-generation Hualong One pressurised water reactors and one fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor. In addition to generating electricity, the plant is designed to supply more than 30 million tonnes of industrial steam a year. 

China’s Suneng Nuclear Power Company (a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation - CNNC) has signed a contract to build the conventional islands for three units at the new Xuwei nuclear power plant. The winning supplier consortium comprises China Energy Engineering Jiangsu Electric Power Construction No.3 Company and China National Nuclear Huachen Construction Engineering Company.

"CNNC plans to build two Hualong One units with a net capacity of 1208 MW and one 660 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) unit at the Lianyungang site in Jiangsu province," the company says of its plans.

The company valued the contract to supply the islands, including auxiliary equipment and some other plant components, at 4.2 billion Chinese yuan (roughly CZK 12 billion).

A combination of third- and fourth-generation nuclear reactors

The Xuwei nuclear power plant is unique in its planned focus on supplying high-quality industrial steam. The plant will combine third- and fourth-generation nuclear reactors. In terms of the technology, steam from the Hualong One-type unit will first heat demineralized water to produce saturated steam. This steam will then be reheated by primary steam from the HTGR unit.

 “This is the world’s first dual-coupling demonstration project. It will combine a third-generation pressurised water reactor with a fourth-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor,” CNNC says of the planned integration.

The Chinese government approved construction of the Xuwei plant, located near the Tianwan nuclear power plant, in August last year. CNNC plans for the plant to supply up to 32.5 million tonnes of industrial steam a year and generate up to 11.5 TWh of electricity.