Huaneng Changjiang Unit 3 Starts Commercial Operations

China Huaneg Group Co., Ltd. announced that Unit 3 of the Huaneng Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan has entered commercial operation. This marks the first Hualong One unit to come online in the Hainan Free Trade Port, adding 1.2 million kilowatts of capacity to the regional grid. The facility is designed to provide a stable baseload power source, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting the province's energy security objectives.

According to information obtained by the Global Times, the Phase II project includes both Unit 3 and Unit 4. Once fully operational, the combined output is projected to reach 18 billion kilowatt-hours annually. This capacity addition is expected to displace approximately 6.326 million tons of standard coal and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 11.68 million tons per year, directly contributing to national dual carbon targets.

Unit 4 Progress and Grid Integration

Unit 4 is currently undergoing commissioning after successfully completing its cold functional test on September 6. The plant has upgraded Hainan's electrical infrastructure to accommodate these large-scale units. Previously, the island's grid operated at 220 kilovolts, a level typically associated with county-level distribution on the mainland. The introduction of a 500-kilovolt grid now allows for the connection of million-kilowatt-class nuclear units, ensuring a surplus power supply and mitigating the risk of electricity shortages.

Che Yu, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the Trade Union at Huaneng Changjiang, stated that the stable nature of nuclear generation provides a reliable foundation for the Hainan Free Trade Port. The company notes that this stable, green power source is critical for ensuring the implementation of regional economic policies and supporting the port's development goals without compromising environmental standards.

Supporting Emerging Computing Infrastructure

The plant is positioning its output to meet the energy demands of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence. Che Yu emphasized that computing power is fundamentally dependent on energy availability. With Hainan's expanded generation capacity, the company indicated it is fully capable of supporting the establishment of a regional computing power center, pending national planning decisions regarding data center distribution.

Nationally, operational nuclear capacity reached 66.14 million kilowatts as of the end of June, an 8.6 percent year-on-year increase. The sector added 3.62 million kilowatts of net capacity in the first half of the year, generating 234.6 billion kilowatt-hours. These figures underscore the growing role of nuclear power in China's energy mix as the country seeks to balance rapid technological growth with sustainable energy supply.

Digital Management and Operational Efficiency

The facility utilizes a domestically developed large-scale nuclear power production management system. This platform integrates video surveillance, 5G communications, and artificial intelligence to enable closed-loop management of the production process. The system allows for full traceability of operations and is designed to support fourth-generation nuclear power units, providing a digital foundation for the industry's continued development and independent technological advancement.