Monday, November 4, 2024
The first of two demonstration reactors Guohe One (CAP1400) at Huaneng Group’s Shidaowan site in China’s Shandong province has been connected to the power grid. The 1400 MWe pressurized water reactor design is intended for deployment in large numbers across the country, as well as for export.
_32334.jpg "China's first CAP1400 starts supplying power 8")
The CAP1400 is an enhanced version of the CAP1000 PWR developed from the Westinghouse AP1000 with consulting input from the US-based company.
Research and development of Guohe One began in 2008. In December 2009, the National Nuclear Power Plant Demonstration Company, a 55-45% joint venture between the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) and China Huaneng Group, was established to construct and operate two nuclear power plants. . CAP1400 demonstration unit located at the Shidowan site in Eisei City, Hano. SPIC officially announced the CAP1400 reactor design in September 2020.
Construction of Unit 1 began in June 2019 and Unit 2 in April 2020. Construction of the reactor design is expected to take 56 months, reducing to 50 months for subsequent units.
The National Nuclear Safety Administration issued an operating permit for the first Kuniwaichi demonstration reactor in late July this year.
At a press conference on October 31, Dong Wangcheng, deputy director of the National Energy Administration (NEA) Development Planning Bureau, announced that the first 1,400 CAP units in Shidao Bay have been connected to the power grid.
CAP1400 Reactor Design (Image: SPIC)
The reactor will now undergo step-by-step power ramp tests and commissioning verification before officially entering commercial operation.
“Once operational, the project will generate 11.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, meeting the electricity needs of more than 11 million residents and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 9 million tons per year,” the NEA said.
Furthermore, “From 2022 onwards, several CAP series third generation nuclear power plants under the National Electric Power Investment Corporation have been approved to begin construction, and this series of nuclear power generation models will reach the peak period of construction in the next few years. It will happen,” he added. ”
In May 2016, the CAP1400 design passed the International Atomic Energy Agency’s General Reactor Safety Review. This review is not an approval process, but rather a review of the quality of safety documentation to identify strengths, weaknesses, and gaps. International use of CAP1400 remains dependent on meeting country-specific standards and requirements, but passing IAEA safety review will ease this process.
