In 2005, China announced its intention to scale up the HTR-10 experimental reactor for commercial power generation. The first two 250-MWt High-Temperature Reactor-Pebble-bed Modules will be installed at Shidao Bay, and together drive a steam turbine generating 200 MWe. Originally to be started in 2011, the project was postponed after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in Japan in March 2011. In 2009, it was planned to be finished in 2013. Construction finally began at the end of 2012, with the pouring of concrete basemat occurring in April 2014. The vessel was installed in 2016. It was expected to begin operating around 2017, later postponed to 2018. The pressure vessel head was installed in December 2017. An updated larger power plant, HTR-PM600, is planned with a capacity of 600 MWe using six HTR-PM reactor units.
CAP1400
In November 2006, State Power Investment Corporation introduced the AP1000, a third-generation pressurized water reactor design, from the U.S. company Westinghouse Electric Corporation. Since then China built four AP1000 units, two in the Sanmen Nuclear Power Station, and another two in the Haiyang Nuclear Power Plant. China has upgraded the AP1000 technology, researching and developing its own version, the more powerful CAP1400. Preparation work started in 2013 and Unit 1 construction started in 2018. Completion estimated in 2021. In May 2016, the CAP1400 design has successfully passed the International Atomic Energy Agency's Generic Reactor Safety Review. According to SPIC, the company is building two CAP1400 reactors in a demonstration project located in the Shidao Bay nuclear plant. In March 2017, the Unit 1 first CAP1400 reactor pressure vessel hydraulic test was completed at the factory test site. The pressure vessel is the core equipment of the reactor and has a total weight of about 487 tons and a design life of 60 years. On 30 June 2017, the Unit 1 first low-pressure module LP2 of the CAP1400 National Nuclear Demonstration Project Turbine, was completed by Dongfang Electric Group Dongfang Steam Turbine Co., Ltd. The CAP1400 steam turbine low-pressure rotor has a weight of 267 tons and the whole block weight is 749 tons. The blade steam turbine rotor is the world's largest nuclear power turbine rotor. The LP2 steam turbine will help drive the CAP1400 1,520 MW generator.
Reactor data
The Shidao Bay Nuclear Power Plant consist of three reactors under construction, and four planned future reactors.
