This photo taken on Aug. 10, 2023 shows the assembly site of the core module of the world's first commercial small modular reactor, Linglong One, in Changjiang Li Autonomous County, south China's Hainan Province. (China National Nuclear Corporation/Handout via Xinhua)

Assembly of the core module of the world's first commercial small modular reactor (SMR), Linglong One, was completed on Thursday, according to its developer, the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

This marks the peak of the installation process of Linglong One, representing a historic step in the miniaturization of global nuclear energy and confirming that China is at the forefront globally in terms of modular SMR construction.

Located in south China's island province of Hainan, Linglong One is a multi-purpose small modular pressurized water reactor self-developed by the CNNC.

The core module is the key component of Linglong One, and was independently designed and purchased by the Nuclear Power Institute of China under the CNNC. It includes the likes of pressure vessels and steam generators.

Before assembly, the steam generators were welded to the pressure vessels in the factory. This design innovation has not only improved the safety and reliability of the nuclear power plant, but also greatly shortened the construction period, said Deng Xiaoliang, deputy general manager of Hainan Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. of the CNNC.

SMRs are playing an increasingly prominent role in the new round of nuclear energy technology reform and international industrial competition due to their advantages in safety, deployment flexibility and multi-purpose operation.

Linglong One is another innovative nuclear reactor developed by China with independent intellectual property rights, after Hualong One reactor. It is also the first small modular pressurized water reactor in the world to have passed the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) general safety review.

Its developer CNNC also participated in the staffing work of the first SMR user requirements document of the IAEA, contributing Chinese wisdom to the development of SMRs.

Based at the Changjiang nuclear power plant in Hainan, construction on Linglong One started in July 2021.

After completion, it is expected to achieve an annual power generation capacity of 1 billion kWh, which would meet the needs of about 526,000 households. It is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 880,000 tonnes per year, equivalent to planting 7.5 million trees a year.

Linglong One is also designed for urban heating, industrial steam production and seawater desalination.

It is set to be displayed at a conference on the development and application of SMRs to be held in Hainan this September.