Project Details
Developer
Location
Changjian, Hainan, China
Capacity
100 MW-electric
COD
Expected COD: 2026
About This Project
Executive Overview
Linglong One (ACP100) is a 125 MWe integrated pressurised water reactor (PWR) small modular reactor under commissioning at the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant in Hainan Province, China, operated by a China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) subsidiary. It is the world's first commercial onshore SMR to begin construction and the first to pass an IAEA safety review (2016). Development began in 2010; preliminary design was completed in 2014; first concrete was poured on July 13, 2021. The outer containment dome (550 tonnes) was installed in February 2024; cold functional tests were completed on October 16, 2025; non-nuclear turbine start-up tests were completed on December 23, 2025, achieving stable operation across all systems on the first attempt. Commercial operation is planned for the first half of 2026. Annual electricity output is expected to reach 1 billion kWh, supplying approximately 526,000 households and reducing CO₂ emissions by approximately 880,000 tonnes per year. The reactor is sited adjacent to two operating CNP600 PWRs and two Hualong One units under construction.
How It Works & Differentiation
The ACP100 is an integrated PWR: the reactor pressure vessel, steam generators, and main pumps are all within a single pressure vessel module, eliminating the external main coolant piping of conventional PWRs and reducing primary circuit leak risk while significantly reducing the reactor building footprint. The design incorporates passive safety systems and is developed for multipurpose deployment — electricity generation, district heating, steam production, and seawater desalination — making it applicable to island and remote industrial contexts. The core module uses four sealed, single-speed, vertical, fully-sealed main circulation pumps. Planned construction period was 58 months from first concrete to commercial operation.
Commercialization & Traction
Linglong One is a flagship project of China's 14th Five-Year Plan for advanced nuclear reactor technology. CNNC is targeting SMR exports, and Linglong One's completion as the world's first commercial onshore SMR provides the reference data needed for international procurement conversations. The reactor's successful non-nuclear commissioning in December 2025 puts it on track to be the world's first commercial land-based SMR to enter commercial operation, ahead of any Western SMR programme. The design has already passed the IAEA safety review, establishing an international regulatory baseline that streamlines licensing in member states.
Scalability & Strategic Context
The ACP100's commercial success will be the primary reference for China's SMR export programme, targeting markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa where grid scale is too small for conventional 1,000 MW reactors. The integrated PWR architecture and passive safety system design directly compete with Western SMR designs including NuScale, GE-Hitachi BWRX-300, and Rolls-Royce SMR. At 125 MWe per unit, the Linglong One is sized for baseload supply to mid-sized cities and industrial parks, a market segment that CNNC believes represents the highest-volume SMR deployment opportunity globally.
Project Timeline
Further Reading
Cold testing of Chinese SMR completed
Cold functional testing has been successfully completed at China's ACP100 small modular reactor demonstration project at the Changjiang site, verifying the integrity and installation quality of key systems and paving the way for further commissioning steps.
China’s Domestically Developed Small Modular Reactor Linglong One to Boost Dual Carbon Goals
China's domestically developed Linglong-1 small modular reactor, the world's first commercial modular small nuclear reactor, is expected to significantly support the country's dual carbon goals by providing clean, flexible energy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
First main pump installed in Chinese SMR
The article reports that the first of four main pumps has been installed at China's ACP100 small modular reactor demonstration project at the Changjiang site, marking a significant milestone in the reactor's construction and showcasing China's capabilities in nuclear technology and project management.
Neutronic assessment and optimization of ACP-100 reactor core models to achieve unit multiplication and radial power peaking factor
This article presents a neutronic and burnup assessment of the Chinese ACP-100 small modular reactor core, proposing and optimizing a mixed-enrichment fuel assembly model with burnable absorbers and control systems to achieve sustained criticality and uniform power distribution over an extended fuel cycle.
China’s Linglong SMR internals put in place
China's Linglong One, the world's first commercial onshore small modular reactor (SMR), has reached near completion with the installation of its reactor internals at the Changjiang site in Hainan province.
Outer dome installed on Chinese small modular nuclear reactor
The article reports that the outer containment dome has been successfully installed on China's ACP100 small modular reactor demonstration project at the Changjiang site in Hainan, marking the completion of the main structure of the reactor building and a significant milestone for the project.
Chinese SMR completes non-nuclear steam start-up test
China's ACP100 small modular reactor at the Changjiang site successfully completed its non-nuclear steam turbine start-up test, marking a key milestone before nuclear fuel loading and future grid connection.
Installation Of Reactor Core Internals Begins At SMR Demonstration Project
Workers have completed installation of the lower reactor core internals at China’s ACP100 small modular reactor demonstration project, marking a key milestone in the construction of the Linglong One SMR.
ACP100: China’s First Modular Reactor for Sustainable Nuclear Energy
The webpage at https://energynews.pro/en/acp100-chinas-first-modular-reactor-for-sustainable-nuclear-energy/ is currently inaccessible and under construction, so a summary cannot be provided.
Development of a Digital Twin for the CANDU Reactor Shutdown System
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Kori-2
The page provides detailed information about the LINGLONG-1 (HAINAN CHANGJIANG SMR) nuclear reactor in China, including its type, capacity, ownership, construction status, and key dates.