China’s Shidaowan nuclear power plant, the world’s first fourth-generation reactor, has begun commercial operations, one of the companies behind its development said.
The high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) went online following a week-long (168 hours) continuous operation test, state-owned China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) said in announcing the feat on Wednesday.
Fourth-generation nuclear reactors are designed to be successors for the existing, often water-cooled, nuclear reactors in operation around the world.
The reactor at the Shidaowan plant in China’s eastern Shandong province is part of a global push for safer, more sustainable and efficient nuclear operations.
Instead of using water to cool the system, the high-temperature reactor will be cooled using helium gas, offering a promising way to develop more inland nuclear plants, as they will not need to be located next to a water source.
– South China Morning Post
