China General Nuclear Power Corp (CGN) has put Unit 2 of its Taipingling nuclear power project in Guangdong province into commercial operation, completing the first phase of the Greater Bay Area's first Hualong One third-generation reactor project.

The unit began commercial operation at 11:18 am on August 3, according to CGN. The first phase of the project, located in Huidong county, Huizhou city, was approved by the state in April 2019, with construction of Unit 2 starting in October 2020.

The project team completed over 30 major design improvements during construction of Unit 2, including the first application of integral hoisting technology for steel liner bottom plates and truncated cone modules on a Hualong One unit, which reduced risks from cross-operations and work at height.

Zhang Guoqiang, party secretary and chairman of CGN Huizhou Nuclear Power Co., said the two units are expected to generate over 18 TWh annually, enough to meet the electricity needs of nearly 2 million people for a year, while cutting carbon dioxide emissions by about 16.63 million tonnes annually.