China's domestically developed small modular reactor Linglong-1 to boost dual carbon goals

The world's first commercial modular small nuclear reactor, Linglong-1 (ACP100) - hailed as a "nuclear power bank" - is expected to contribute significantly to China's dual carbon goals.

In May, under the clear blue skies at the Hainan Nuclear Power Co.Ltd（HNPC） in South China's Hainan Province, Linglong-1 was operating in an orderly manner.

As a flagship project of China's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) for advanced nuclear reactor technology and the world's first land-based commercial modular small reactor to begin construction, Linglong-1 is now in its peak installation phase. According to HNPC under China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), several system debugging operations are also progressing steadily, with active preparations underway for the unit's cold functional tests.

Linglong-1 (ACP100) is a third-generation small pressurized water reactor independently developed by CNNC, with fully independent intellectual property rights. In 2016, it became the world's first small reactor to pass a safety review by the International Atomic Energy Agency（IAEA）, earning it the nickname "nuclear power bank."

"This is another major achievement in China's independent nuclear innovation following the Hualong One. It fills a domestic gap and offers a Chinese solution for the development of small modular reactors worldwide," said a person in charge of the HNPC.

Unlike traditional nuclear technologies, modular small reactors feature miniaturization, modularity, integration, and passive safety systems. They are highly secure, have shortened construction period, and can be flexibly deployed. As a clean, distributed energy source, they can provide power while also supporting regional heating/cooling and industrial thermal applications, making them suitable for use in industrial parks, mining zones, and energy-intensive enterprises.

Each Linglong-1 unit generates 125,000 kilowatts of power, with an annual electricity output of 1 billion kilowatt-hours - enough to meet the needs of 526,000 households (about 1 million people). This equates to a reduction of 880,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions, or the equivalent of planting 7.5 million trees.

Its broader application can significantly reduce China's reliance on fossil fuels, promote energy conservation and emission reductions, and support peak carbon and carbon neutrality efforts. It also plays a positive role in advancing safe nuclear development and independent innovation, while ensuring green energy supply for the Hainan Free Trade Port and Hainan's ecological civilization demonstration zone.