China has completed research and development on third-generation nuclear power technology called CAP1400 (Guohe One), the State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) announced on Monday.
It's the latest achievement in China's nuclear power technology development and industrial innovation.
Based on the third-generation nuclear technology AP1000, CAP1400 is China's second independent third-generation nuclear power technology, along with Hualong One. It features a high safety coefficient, sound economic performance and multiple innovations.
China started the project in 2008. After a dozen years' efforts by over 26,000 technology engineers, CAP1400 has made great technological innovations, promoting the overall upgrading of the country's nuclear power industry and technology.
Some 90 percent of CAP1400's equipment is domestically made, with all its key parts and materials including the main pump being domestically designed and produced, said Zheng Mingguang, chief designer of CAP1400 nuclear reactors.
CAP1400 has broken overseas technology monopolies in many areas and owns independent intellectual property and export rights, said Lu Hongzao, assistant general manager of SPIC.
It will be a powerful provider of electricity. "For example, it can provide 1.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to the grid. So basically it can provide nearly 13 billion kWh annually."
With a design life of 60 years, the CAP1400 nuclear reactor improves safety performance against natural disasters including earthquakes and floods by 100 times, compared with the second-generation version.
The annual generating capacity of a single CAP1400 unit can meet the electricity needs of over 22 million residents and reduce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide by more than nine million tons per year.
By the end of 2019, China had 13 nuclear power units under construction, with a total installed capacity of 13.871 million kW, ranking first in the world. It is estimated that by 2025, China's installed nuclear power capacity in operation will reach 70 million kW, with 30 million kW already under construction.
(With input from Global Times)
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