Ling Ao unit 3 nuclear power plant enters commercial operation

The first unit of Ling Ao phase II (unit 3) nuclear power plant entered commercial operation in China on September 20, 2010. This unit will supply electricity to the Guangdong province. The plant was synchronised to the grid in July this year and the output of the turbine generator has progressively increased since then.

Construction of the plant began in 2005 and the first unit has entered operation earlier than scheduled. The turbine generator package of the plant has been constructed by the global power generation company, Alstom in partnership with China’s Dongfang Electric Corporation, Ldt (DECL) for China Nuclear Power Engineering Co. ltd (CNPEC).

Work on the second unit of phase II (unit 4) is in full swing and the unit is expected to enter commercial operation in 2011. Once operational, Ling Ao phase II (2 X 1080MW) will become the largest nuclear power plant in the important Guangdong province. The other plants in the province, Ling Ao phase I (units 1&2) and Daya Bay (units 1&2) are also based on Alstom technology.

“The successful start-up of Ling Ao unit 3 represents another milestone for the solid partnership between DECL and Alstom, and further confirms Alstom’s position as the best supplier choice in the Chinese nuclear equipment market,” says Richard Yeung, Head of Power, Alstom Power China. 

The Ling Ao phase II plant  is based on Alstom’s ARABELLE™* half-speed steam turbine and is the first project in China to apply the technology with the CPR 1000 reactor. The ARABELLE™ technology is suitable for all reactor types and is renowned globally as providing higher efficiency and reduced installation and maintenance costs. This makes it highly suitable for plants such as Ling Ao II  which require high availability and maintainability of the turbine island to suit the short refuelling cycle. Alstom is also implementing this technology at HongYanHe and Ningde, Fuqing and Fangjiashan (current CPR 1000 projects) and Taishan, China’s first EPR project. The successful steam turbine technology is coupled with the GIGATOP 4 pole turbogenerator, Moisture Separator Reheater (MSR), the Condenser and the Low Pressure (LP) heater, all designed by Alstom and supplied in partnership with DECL.

Alstom’s presence in the China nuclear energy market dates back to more than 20 years. Alstom has made strong efforts in localizing its main products in China. In doing so, reliable and close relationships have been established with Chinese manufacturers like DECL, which will ensure continuing success in the ambitious Chinese nuclear development program. Alstom and its partner DECL have supplied more than 50% of the conventional islands in China.

Many important components of nuclear power plants are manufactured locally by Alstom’s factory in Beijing, Alstom Beizhong Power (Beijing) Co. Ltd. Alstom is also supported by AWEC, a partnership between the Alstom Wuhan Engineering and Technology Company and the Chinese Central South Electrical Power Design Institute. AWEC is recognised as the nuclear centre of excellence in China. Alstom benefits from the centre for its engineering, sourcing, supply chain management and project management activities. AWEC supported the design of Ling Ao II and is also providing the design of Taishan.

*ARABELLE™ is a trademark of Alstom

About Alstom Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 96,500 people in more than 70 countries, and had sales of over €23 billion* in 2009/10.

*Pro forma figures 

About Alstom China Alstom China offers comprehensive rail transport, power generation as well as transmission solutions and is a long-term dedicated partner of China’s rail transport, power and transmission infrastructure industry in the past 50 years. By joining hands with Chinese partners, Alstom enables customers to be more competitive, efficient and environmentally friendly. Alstom presents in China through more than 30 entities with around 10,000 employees.

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