China's Ministry of Environment is proceeding with environmental impact assessment for a project to build an ACP100 small modular reactor (SMR) at Changjiang, Hainan, with construction to begin by the end of this year.

Potential applications of the ACP100 (Image: CNNC)

According to Chinese publication Nuclear World, first concrete is to be poured on 31 December. Construction is expected to take 65 months, with the 125 MWe unit expected to start up by 31 May 2025, subject to relevant governmental approvals.

The ACP100 was identified as a 'key project' in China's 12th Five-Year Plan, and is developed from the larger ACP1000 pressurised water reactor (PWR). The design, which has 57 fuel assemblies and integral steam generators, incorporates passive safety features and will be installed underground. China in 2016 announced plans to build a demonstration floating nuclear power plant based on the ACP100S variant of the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) design.

A two-unit demonstration plant was originally planned for construction by CNNC New Energy Corporation, a joint venture of CNNC (51%) and China Guodian Corp in Putian county, at the south of Fujian province. In early 2017, the site for the first ACP100 units was changed to Changjiang, on Hainan island, with a larger reactor to be built at Putian.

The ACP100 plant will be located on the northwest side of the existing Changjiang nuclear power plant, according to the 22 March announcement. The site is already home to two operating CNP600 PWRs, with two Hualong One units also planned for construction.