China unveils Gen-III+ nuclear reactor with 66% more automation, 33% less installation

China has unveiled Hualong One 2.0, an upgraded Gen-III+ nuclear power technology designed to improve reactor safety while reducing construction complexity, equipment requirements, and operating workload. The technology was unveiled on September 7 at the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN) 2026 Sustainable Development Conference in Shenzhen. It builds on the existing Hualong One design rather than replacing it with an entirely new reactor architecture. One of its biggest changes is how long the plant can manage an accident without outside intervention. Hualong One 2.0 is designed to allow operators to remain without intervention for 72 hours after an accident and provide seven days of accident self-sustaining capability. The upgraded design also targets the physical complexity of the nuclear island. Pipeline length is reduced by about 31 percent, while the number of process valves falls by about 25 percent. Nuclear island building volume is cut by 21 percent, and installation volume drops by about 33 percent. Nuclear safety gets stronger The safety architecture retains the defense-in-depth approach used in Hualong One, while 14 safety features have been optimized and nine key safety indicators improved. The changes are intended to make the reactor easier to build and operate while strengthening its ability to respond to abnormal conditions. Automation is another major part of the upgrade. The unit automation operation ratio has increased by 66 percent, allowing systems to be regulated more precisely and potentially reducing response times. “This is not a brand-new technology developed from scratch, but rather a systematic upgrade in quality and efficiency built upon a mature design, delivering comprehensive enhancements across five dimensions: safety, construction schedule, capital cost, O&M, and environmental protection,” said Niu Wenhua, chief expert of “Hualong One” 2.0, at the launch. The technology also targets supply-chain independence. Key equipment is designed with 100 percent localization capability, according to CGN. The upgrade comes after years of operating experience with Hualong One. Ten Hualong One reactors have entered commercial operation in China and overseas, while another 37 have been approved and are under construction. CGN said the Hualong One development program has already incorporated experience from large-scale construction and operation. Its research and development team, working with industry partners, completed nearly 100 design optimizations before arriving at the 2.0 version. Smaller systems, faster response The changes are also aimed at making nuclear plants more efficient to construct. Reducing piping, valves and installation volumes can simplify the nuclear island and potentially lower the amount of work required during construction. The technology’s development builds on China’s decades-long nuclear power program. The Daya Bay Nuclear Power Base in Shenzhen now contains six reactor units across the Daya Bay and Ling’ao nuclear power plants. Its cumulative on-grid electricity generation has exceeded 1,000 TWh. One Ling’ao reactor has also operated for more than 7,200 consecutive days, setting a reported world record for the longest safe operation period among nuclear units of the same type. Hualong One 2.0 is now moving toward its first demonstration project. China’s State Council Executive Meeting approved eight nuclear power units on July 31, with Phase III of CGN’s Guangdong Taipingling Nuclear Power Plant designated as a demonstration project for the upgraded technology.The move gives China a route to test whether the design’s promised gains in safety, construction, automation, and cost can translate from engineering optimization into large-scale nuclear deployment.Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.With over a decade-long career in journalism, Neetika Walter has worked with The Economic Times, ANI, and Hindustan Times, covering politics, business, technology, and the clean energy sector. Passionate about contemporary culture, books, poetry, and storytelling, she brings depth and insight to her writing. When she isn’t chasing stories, she’s likely lost in a book or enjoying the company of her dogs.