© CNNC
A ceremony celebrating work in the Hainan Free Trade Pilot Zone where the new project was announced
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has announced the launch of a project to construct an ACP100 small modular reactor at Changjiang in Hainan province.
Construction of the demonstration unit - also referred to as the Linglong One design - is scheduled to begin by the end of this year.
A two-unit demonstration plant was originally planned for construction by CNNC New Energy Corporation - a joint venture of CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corp - in Putian county, at the south of Fujian province. In early 2017, the site for the first ACP100 units was changed to Changjiang, on Hainan island, with a larger reactor to be built at Putian.
The demonstration ACP100 plant will be located on the north-west side of the existing Changjiang nuclear power plant, according to a 22 March announcement from China's Ministry of Environment. The site is already home to two operating CNP600 PWRs, with two Hualong One units also planned for construction.
"The Linglong One demonstration project will verify the design, manufacture, construction and operation of the technology," according to CNNC.
"It will also help the company gain experience of running small nuclear power stations and enable it to explore the future market for small reactors."
It added, "As a new type of nuclear reactor, the small modular reactor is
safe and economical with a high degree of flexibility in terms of power and scale, as well as being adaptable for power plants in challenging locations. It is able to provide power for small- and medium-sized electricity grids, along with any energy-consuming system."
Comment: Observers were quick to associate the latest blackout with US dirty tricks: