Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 30, Rongcheng has become the third city in Shandong Province to receive district heating from the Haiyang nuclear power plant, State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) announced. Supply to Rongcheng’s urban area officially started on 15 November.

Haiyang city began receiving nuclear district heating in 2020, followed by Rushan in 2021. The Haiyang project, China’s first commercial nuclear heating initiative, initially provided heat to 700,000 square metres of residential space during a 2019–2020 trial winter, including plant facilities and nearby homes.

The system employs proven steam extraction technology combined with an advanced “dual-unit series large temperature difference” method. This allows the two operating units to heat circulating water sequentially, substantially increasing overall heating capacity. A single unit can also operate independently, enabling flexible adjustment to demand and enhancing system reliability.

SPIC stated that the expanded nuclear heating network is expected to replace approximately 120,000 tonnes of coal annually. This will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 360,000 tonnes, nitrogen oxides by 2,066 tonnes, sulphur dioxide by 2,173 tonnes, and particulate matter by 1,258 tonnes each year.

The Haiyang plant operates two AP1000 pressurised water reactors that entered commercial service in 2018 and 2019. Two additional CAP1000 units are currently under construction at the site, with grid connection scheduled for 2027.

Nuclear district heating systems are already in use in several countries, including Russia, some Eastern European nations, Switzerland, and Sweden, where heat from nuclear plants also supplies residential areas and industrial facilities. The Haiyang project demonstrates a practical application of nuclear energy for clean, large-scale urban heating.