The Zhangzhou nuclear power plant (NPP) is a 2.4GW nuclear power station under construction in the Fujian province of China. It will comprise two indigenously developed Hualong One (HPR-1000) pressurised water reactors of 1.2GW gross electrical capacity each.
China Nuclear Power Zhangzhou Energy, a joint venture between China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and China Energy Investment Corporation (China Energy), is responsible to construct and operate the facility.
Recommended White Papers
China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) issued construction licences for both the units in October 2019. Construction of unit one started in the same month, followed by that of unit two in September 2020.
The units one and two are expected to be commissioned by 2024 and 2025, respectively. Each of them will generate enough electricity to power up to one million Chinese households, while replacing about 3.12 million tonnes (Mt) of coal consumption.
Location and site details
The Zhangzhou nuclear power plant is being built on the west bank of the Dongshan Bay in Cizaiwei, between Xiamen and Shantou special economic zones, to the north-east of Lieyu, Zhangzhou, Fujian province, in south-east China.
Zhangzhou nuclear power plant make-up
Each of the two power units of the Zhangzhou NPP will be equipped with a Hualong One (HPR-1000) reactor, along with three ZH-65 steam generators from Harbin and a high-performance nuclear steam turbine supplied by Shanghai Electric.
Other components of the plant will include coolant pumps, condensers, evaporators, voltage stabilisers, pressure relief tanks, a 72.2 tonne (t) main oil storage tank and a passive cavity water injection tank.
Hualong One reactor details
Hualong One is a third generation, 1,000MW-class PWR jointly developed by CNNC and the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). China holds the exclusive intellectual property rights of the reactor technology.
The Hualong One power reactor has a design life of 60 years and has the capacity to generate up to ten billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity a year.
Units five and six of the Fuqing NPP, located in the Fujian province of China, are also equipped with two Hualong One reactors that were connected to the grid in November 2020 and January 2022, respectively.
Construction equipment
Construction equipment being used at the project site includes a 3,200t crawler crane, a CC8800-1 crane supplied by Sarens, and a polar crane to lift and install heavy equipment in the reactor building.
The polar crane will also be used in the operational phase to support reactor refuelling and maintenance services.
Power evacuation
The electricity generated by the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant will be evacuated to the Chinese power grid through 220kV transmission lines.
Contractors involved
Harbin Electric was contracted by China Nuclear Power Engineering Company (CNPEC) to supply steam separators and heat exchangers for the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in October 2019. Harbin is also supplying the steam generators for the plant.
Shanghai Electric Power Generation Equipment is responsible to provide the steam turbines for the NPP. A joint venture of Shanghai Electric and KSB Nuclear Pumps was contracted by CNPEC to supply six shaft-sealed main pumps for the project in 2016.
HBIS Group was selected to provide 5,200t of high-strength steel bars for the project in 2019.
Neotiss France was contracted to deliver 1,350km of titanium tubes for the condenser of unit two of the Zhangzhou NPP in September 2021.
Zhejiang Jarol Scientific Instrument was engaged to supply six nuclear grade inverter cabinets for the Hualong One reactor negative pressure control system for the NPP.
Tianshui Great Wall Switch Factory Group won a bid to deliver medium-voltage power distribution equipment for the Zhangzhou nuclear power plant in 2020.
East China Nuclear and Radiation Safety was engaged to provide supervision and inspection services for the project.
Rolls-Royce was contracted by CNNC to supply Bibloc pressure transmitters for the two nuclear reactors of the plant in September 2020.
China First Heavy Machinery Company (CFHI) was contracted to deliver two reactor pressure vessels for the Zhangzhou NPP in October 2014.
