By Sama Marwan,
China’s first commercial small modular nuclear reactor, named Linglong-1, has entered the final phase of installation. The reactor is located in Hainan Province, at the site of Hainan Nuclear Power Co., Ltd., and is being developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). According to China’s state-owned Global Times, Linglong-1 is the first commercial small modular reactor (SMR) in the world to begin construction, and it is expected to play a key role in reducing China’s carbon emissions.
Linglong-1, also known as ACP100, is a third-generation small pressurized water reactor. It was fully developed in China and holds independent intellectual property rights. In 2016, it became the first SMR in the world to pass the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) safety review.
Due to its compact size and ability to deliver energy safely and reliably, it’s been dubbed a “nuclear power bank.” Global Times reports that the reactor is part of China’s 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025), which emphasizes advanced nuclear technologies.
According to HNPC, the project is progressing as scheduled. Engineers are conducting system tests and preparing for cold functional testing, which is a crucial step before full operation begins.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) like Linglong-1 differ from traditional nuclear power plants—they are smaller, safer, and faster to build. These reactors use passive safety systems, meaning they can shut down safely without human intervention or external power sources.
Their small size allows them to be installed in various locations, including industrial zones, mining areas, and regions with high energy consumption. Each reactor can produce 125,000 kilowatts of electricity, amounting to around 1 billion kilowatt-hours per year—enough to power about 500,000 homes, or approximately 1 million people.
By replacing coal-based power with nuclear energy from Linglong-1, China could reduce CO₂ emissions by around 880,000 tons per year—the equivalent of planting 7.5 million trees.
The China National Nuclear Corporation states that Linglong-1 fills a gap in China’s nuclear development and showcases the country’s ability to lead in small reactor technology.
