China’s State Council has approved eight new 1,127 MW nuclear reactors across Guangdong, Liaoning, Zhejiang and Shandong, developed by CGN Power, China National Nuclear Power (CNNC subsidiary) and SPIC Industry‑Finance. Several units are designated demonstrations for the Hualong One 2.0 design, with total investment exceeding 170 billion yuan (~$25bn). A global energy review found world nuclear generation reached a record 2,845 TWh in 2025, growth driven solely by China’s 34+ TWh increase. China had about 61 GW of installed nuclear capacity at end‑2024 and targets 110 GW by 2030 and 200 GW by 2035.
China Approves Eight New 1,127 MW Nuclear Reactors, Accelerating Hualong One Buildout
Rendergraph of Zhuanghe nuclear power project site of CNNC Photo: Official WeChat account of CNNC
Chinese authorities have authorized construction of eight new nuclear reactors as Beijing expands low‑carbon baseload capacity to meet rising electricity demand and climate goals.
What Was Approved
Regulatory filings posted on July 31 indicate the State Council has approved new reactor units in Guangdong, Liaoning, Zhejiang and Shandong provinces. Each reactor is rated at 1,127 MW. Project developers listed in the filings include China General Nuclear Power Co. (CGN Power), China National Nuclear Power (a subsidiary of China National Nuclear Corporation) and SPIC Industry‑Finance.
Technology: Hualong One And Version 2.0 Demonstrations
Chinese media and company statements say the reactors will use the HPR1000 (Hualong One) third‑generation pressurized water reactor design. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) confirmed that several of the eight units have been designated as demonstration projects for the upgraded Hualong One 2.0 design, with Phase II of Jinqimen and Phase III (Units 5 and 6) at Taipingling named as demonstration sites.
Investment, Timeline And Site Details
Reports estimate combined investment for these projects at more than 170 billion yuan (about $25 billion). The newly approved units include Units 5 and 6 at the Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant in Huizhou, Guangdong, where Units 1 and 2 began commercial operations in 2026 and construction is underway for Units 3 and 4. CNNC will develop reactors at Zhuanghe (Liaoning) and Jinqimen (Zhejiang), while SPIC Industry‑Finance will proceed with the Laiyang project in Shandong.
Global Context
The approvals come as the Statistical Review of World Energy reported global nuclear generation reached a record 2,845 TWh in 2025, a 1.3% rise from 2024. That growth was driven entirely by China, which added more than 34 TWh in 2025; without China, global nuclear output would have fallen year‑over‑year. The report also shows the U.S. remains the single largest nuclear producer (826 TWh, ~29% of the global total), with China in second place (about 485 TWh, ~17%).
China’s Nuclear Ambitions
China had roughly 61 GW of installed nuclear capacity at the end of 2024, short of its 70 GW target for 2025. The government’s targets are 110 GW of operating capacity by 2030 and 200 GW by 2035. Industry analysts say meeting those goals will require approval of multiple new reactors each year. CNNC noted that 10 Hualong One units are now operating in China and another 37 are approved or under construction, underscoring the central role of Hualong One technology in the country’s nuclear expansion.
Significance: The new approvals reinforce China’s strategy to pair rapid variable renewable growth (solar and wind) with more reliable, low‑emission baseload generation to secure a stable power supply and meet emissions targets.
Reported by Darrell Proctor, senior editor at POWER.
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