The Zhejiang San’ao nuclear power plant is a 6GW nuclear power station proposed to be developed with a total of six reactor units in the Zhejiang province of China. The Government of China approved the construction of two reactor units of 1GW each in phase one in September 2020.

The project is being developed by Cangman Nuclear Power Company, a subsidiary of China General Nuclear (CGN) Group.

CGN holds a 46% stake in the project, while the other development partners include Zhejiang Energy Power (34%), Cangnan Haixi Construction Development Company (9%), Wenzhou Nuclear Energy Development Company (9%), and Geely Maijie Investment Group (2%).

The construction of the first unit of the plant is expected to be started in December 2020 with the construction of the second unit expected by the end of 2021.

With a design life of 60 years, the Zhejiang San’ao nuclear power plant is expected to commence operations in 2025.

Location and site details 

The Zhejiang San'ao nuclear power plant is located near San'ao village, Xiaguan town, on the south-eastern coast of Cangnan County (Wenzhou), in the Zhejiang province of China.

The plant site is located on the southeast side of Shizhonggang Mountain and surrounded by the East China Sea from three sides. The total project site occupies approximately 200ha, of which the main plant area will occupy approximately 162ha.

Zhejiang San’ao nuclear power plant phase one make-up

The first phase of Zhejiang San’ao nuclear power plant will consist of two Hualong One AP1000 nuclear reactors with a rated electrical output of 1.2GW each.

Hualong One (HPR1000) is a third-generation, three-loop pressurised water reactor (PWR) design jointly developed by CNNC and the China General Nuclear Power Group.

Each unit will have a rated thermal output of 3,400MWt. The reactor core comprises 157 fuel assemblies, while the reactor coolant system (RCS) of the plant will operate at a pressure of 15.51MPa with a coolant thermal design flow of 67228.91m3 per hour.

Each generating unit of the plant will utilise a single-shaft, four-cylinder, six-exhaust steam turbine.

Water supply and power evacuation

The phase one facility is estimated to require 720m3/h of seawater supply for plant operations and cooling.

The electricity generated by the Zhejiang San’ao nuclear power plant will be fed to the Zhejiang power grid through three 500kV transmission lines.

Contractors involved

Shanghai Electric Nuclear Power Group is expected to supply the key components including pressure vessels, steam generators, pressurizers, reactor vessel internal (RVI), as well as control rod drive mechanism for the San’ao nuclear power plant.

Zhejiang San’ao nuclear power project background

China State Council approved phase one of the Zhejiang San’ao nuclear power project in September 2020.

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) of the project was approved by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in April 2020, while the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) approved the project in June 2020. 

Although it was previously known as the Zhejiang Cangman nuclear power project, CGN officially renamed the project to Zhejiang San’ao nuclear power plant in January 2016.