The Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant Phase I Expansion Project has successfully completed the lifting of the inner dome at Unit 1. This milestone marks the project’s transition from the civil construction phase to the equipment installation phase, a key step in the construction of any nuclear power plant.
The inner dome is the upper part of the steel containment structure that protects the nuclear reactor, that acts as a safety barrier, ensuring that the reactor building is airtight and contains the radioactivity. The dome weighs 227.9 tons, is made up of 70 hyperboloid-shaped panels, and its surface area is equivalent to four regulation basketball courts.
What makes this power plant special?
It houses China’s first nuclear base that simultaneously employs domestically developed third- and fourth-generation technologies. The [unspecified] is already operational there.world’s first fourth-generation reactorand they are building four “Hualong One” reactors, with advanced third-generation technology, in two phases.
The base is expected to generate 35 billion kWh per year, enough to supply the electricity consumption of 17 million households (of three people). That’s equivalent to:
- Save 11.5 million tons of coal per year.
- Stop broadcasting27.6 million tons of CO₂per year.
Shidaowan strengthens China’s energy strategy
The progress in Shidaowan reflects the country’s drive towards an energy transition. Based on low-carbon sources, the combination of technological innovation and nuclear expansion positions China as a key player in the large-scale development of clean energy.
Fountain: Central Nuclear Hualong Shidaowan