Nuclear is expensive? Tianwan 6 comes online at one-fifth the cost of a US plant

The construction of Tianwan 6 in 5 years, at a total cost of $3.2 billion, shows China is cleaning our clock in cost-effective nuclear technology and construction.

"Unit 6 of China’s Tianwan NPP in Jiangsu province began commercial operation on 3 June, after completing a 100-hour continuous operation test run at full power. The 1080 MWe (net) domestically-designed ACPR1000 pressurised water reactor at Tianwan 6 is China National Nuclear Corporation's (CNNC) 24th reactor in commercial operation, bringing the company's installed generating capacity to 22.509 GWe (gross). Tianwan 6 was connected to the grid on 11 May after which it underwent tests at 30%, 50% and 100% of its generating capacity before beginning a full-power demonstration operating assessment.

This completes the Tianwan Phase III Project comprising units 5 and 6, both ACPR1000 reactors. First safety-related concrete was poured for unit 5 in 2015, with for unit 6 in 2016. Tianwan 5 began commercial operation in September 2020.

The first four units at the site (Phases I and II), which began commercial operation between June 2007 and December 2018, are Gidropress VVER units supplied by Russia, as will be the seventh and eighth (Phase IV), for which a general contract was signed in March 2020. The Tianwan plant is owned and operated by Jiangsu Nuclear Power Corporation, a joint venture between CNNC (50%), China Power Investment Corporation (30%) and Jiangsu Guoxin Group (20%)."