China announced on December 20 that at the Shidaowan Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Shandong province of east China, the world's first High Temperature gas cooled Reactor of Pebble bed Module (HTR-PM) is now connected to the grid. It is also the first fourth generation (GEN IV) NPP of High Temperature Gas cooled Reactor (HTGR) connected to the grid, along with its unique inherent safety and robust reliability. As China has become one of the few countries mastering the GEN IV technology, it is leading the global nuclear power technology advancement.

China has proprietary intellectual property rights of the core HTGR technologies. About 93.4 percent of HTGR equipment has been manufactured domestically, demonstrating the high scale of sci-tech self-reliance through development of HTGR technology in China for decades. As one of the major contributors, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has been continuously collaborating with Tsinghua University and China Huaneng Group on vital fields including engineering procurement construction (EPC), fuel element manufacture as well as construction of the demonstration project.

As one of the most practical and effective solution to resolve the challenge of China's Carbon Dioxide Peaking and Carbon Neutrality goals, CNNC has confidence to implement more HTGR projects for its comprehensive application for power generation, process heat supply, district heating, seawater desalination and etc. CNNC will further strengthen its partnership with Tsinghua University for revolutionary and practical innovation to accelerate the massive deployment of the HTGR technology, while establishing an advanced nuclear industry.