China "World's First 4th Generation Nuclear Power Plant Begins Commercial Operation... Secures Independent Technology"

"Reflecting the Leading Position of Chinese Technology"
Shandong Province Likely to Build 4th Generation Nuclear Power Plants in Succession

The Chinese government announced that it has built the world's first 4th generation nuclear power plant in Shandong Province and officially commenced commercial operation. China claims to have independently secured 4th generation (4G) nuclear power technology and started commercial operation first, which is expected to intensify the global competition in 4G nuclear power plant construction.

The 4th generation nuclear power plant built in Shandong Province, China, the Sidaowan Power Plant.[Image source=China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)]

According to the Chinese state media Global Times on the 6th, the National Energy Administration (NEA) of China announced that the Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant located in Longcheng City, eastern Shandong Province, completed 168 hours of trial operation and entered commercial operation. This nuclear power plant uses the so-called 4G nuclear technology called High-Temperature Gas-cooled Reactor (HTGR) and has attracted worldwide attention since the beginning of its construction.

The NEA emphasized, "This nuclear power plant is the world's first 4th generation (4G) nuclear power plant and uses China's completely independent intellectual property rights," adding, "It reflects China's world-leading position in the field of 4G nuclear technology."

Previously, China began construction of the 4G nuclear power plant in December 2012, jointly built by state-owned enterprises China Huaneng, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), and the prestigious Tsinghua University. The reactor, which China claims to hold 100% intellectual property rights for, started power transmission in December 2021, and according to Global Times, stable power supply has become possible through this official operation.

According to Xinhua News Agency, Zhang Zhuyue, the chief designer of the 4G nuclear power plant construction, explained, "The HTGR is safe without any cooling function or intervention measures, and accidents such as reactor core meltdown or radioactive material release will not occur," adding, "HTGR is a globally recognized advanced reactor and represents the future direction of the nuclear industry."

The HTGR nuclear power plant is a type of Small Modular Reactor (SMR), an internationally recognized 4G nuclear technology, and is evaluated to have higher safety compared to conventional nuclear power plants. Additionally, it is expected to have broad application potential in areas such as power generation, cogeneration, power cooling, and ultra-high temperature processes.

Meanwhile, as China accelerates the operation of next-generation nuclear power plants, competition among major countries in nuclear technology development is expected to become even fiercer. Currently, countries including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Russia are actively developing 4G nuclear power plants. Globally, there are a total of 59 nuclear power plants under construction, with China reportedly building 23 of them, accounting for nearly 40%.