The Haiyang 2 AP1000 in China has been connected to the electricity grid. Meanwhile, Sanmen 1 - which last month became the first AP1000 to begin commercial operation - has entered the guarantee period.

Haiyang 1 and 2 (Image: SNPTC)

In September 2007, Westinghouse and its partner the Shaw Group received authorisation to construct four AP1000 units in China: two at Sanmen in Zhejiang province and two more at Haiyang in Shandong province. Construction of Sanmen 1 began in April 2009, while first concrete for Sanmen 2 was poured in December 2009. Construction of Haiyang 1 and 2 began in September 2009 and June 2010, respectively.

Sanmen 1 was the world's first AP1000 to start up, achieving first criticality on 22 June and grid connection on 2 July. It reached full power operation for the first time on 14 August and completed a full-power demonstration test run on 21 September. Sanmen 2 attained first criticality on 17 August and was grid connected a week later. The unit is expected to enter commercial operation by the end of this year.

Unit 1 of the Haiyang plant attained first criticality on 8 August and was grid connected on 17 August. That unit is also scheduled to enter commercial operation by year-end.

Haiyang 2 was connected to the grid at 9.51am on 13 October, State Power Investment Corporation announced that day. "All technical indicators met the design requirements and the unit is in good condition," it said. Haiyang 2 will begin commercial operation in early 2019.

Acceptance certificates

On 11 October, China National Nuclear Corporation subsidiary Sanmen Nuclear Power Company signed provisional acceptance certificates with the suppliers of the Sanmen 1 unit: Westinghouse Electric, China National Nuclear Engineering, Harbin Electric, Mitsubishi and Zhejiang Thermal Power Corporation.

The provisional acceptance certificate signing ceremony (Image: Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems)

The signing of the certificates followed the unit completing a 700-hour demonstration run and performance test, as stipulated in the supply contract. The unit now starts a period of operation under guarantee from the suppliers, after which final acceptance certificates will be signed.

Westinghouse President and CEO José Gutiérrez said, "Many years have been dedicated to successfully bringing the first AP1000 unit to life. Our Westinghouse design and technology is now live and generating safe, clean energy."

Four AP1000 reactors were also being built in the USA - two each at Vogtle and Summer. However, construction of the two Summer units was suspended in August 2017.