

Daya Bay nuclear power plant reaches 1T kWh milestone
Writer: Chen Siqi | Editor: Qianyu Liu | From: Shenzhen Daily | Updated: 2025-10-13
An aerial view of the Daya Bay nuclear power plant. File photo
The Daya Bay nuclear power plant in Shenzhen, operated by the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), has achieved a historic national milestone by supplying over 1 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of cumulative electricity to the grid, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of clean energy for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
A key contributor to regional prosperity, the plant has transmitted more than 320 billion kWh of electricity to Hong Kong, meeting a quarter of the city's total electric use.
This achievement coincides with the 45th anniversary of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and 31 years of safe operation for the Daya Bay nuclear power plant. The first large-scale commercial nuclear power plant on the Chinese mainland, it was approved in 1982 and began commercial operations in 1994.
The original facility has since expanded into the Daya Bay Nuclear Power Base with the addition of the four Ling Ao Nuclear Power Station units, making it one of the world's largest pressurized water reactor nuclear power sites and a "cradle" for China's nuclear power industry.
"From the construction of the nuclear power plant, CGN has developed China's independently owned third-generation nuclear power technology — Hualong One," said Yang Changli, secretary of the board and chairman of CGN. "We will continue to promote high-quality development in nuclear power, new energy, and technological innovation."
Safety is the foundation of Daya Bay's operations. The base has consistently maintained world-class safety performance indicators. In the prestigious EDF Safety Challenge Competition, a global benchmark for the industry, the Daya Bay power plant has won first place in the "Capacity Factor" category for 11 consecutive years. With a cumulative total of 39 championship titles — more than half of all awards in the competition — it is the world’s most-decorated nuclear power facility.
To date, the base's reactors have accumulated over 135 reactor-years of safe operation.
The plant continues to lead with technological upgrades. In 2024, it completed the first major 30-year overhaul and transformation of a large nuclear power unit in China, implementing nearly 200 technical improvements. A landmark achievement was the successful digital transformation of the in-service DCS system — the "nerve center" of the plant — a global first for its reactor type. These upgrades have increased the plant's daily clean energy output by over 2 million kWh.
Furthermore, the base is embracing the AI revolution. It has deployed the DeepSeek large language model locally and developed three AI agent applications to enhance efficiency.
To date, it holds over 1,000 invention patents authorized by the National Intellectual Property Administration.
The environmental contributions of the Daya Bay nuclear power plant are profound. Compared to a coal-fired power plant of similar scale, it has reduced standard coal consumption by over 300 million metric tons and cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 820 million metric tons. This environmental benefit is equivalent to planting forests on about 2.25 million hectares of land, an area larger than 11 cities the size of Shenzhen.
A recent biodiversity report released by the base showed that the surrounding land and sea are home to over 200 species of animals and plants.