Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (Linglong One)

The Linglong One, or ACP100, is a 125MW small modular reactor designed by CNNC and under construction at the Changjiang Nuclear Power Plant on Hainan island. Cold functional tests were completed in October 2025, and Reuters reported in December 2025 that commercial operation is expected in the first half of 2026 — making it the world's first land-based SMR to reach commercial service, ahead of NuScale (US) and Rolls-Royce (UK).

SMRs are nuclear reactors small enough to be factory-built and transported to site, rather than custom-constructed like traditional nuclear plants. The Linglong One's 125MW output is roughly one-eighth of a conventional reactor, making it suitable for island grids, remote regions, and industrial complexes that need reliable baseload power without massive infrastructure. Critically, the reactor is designed for cogeneration: it can simultaneously produce electricity, district heating, and desalinated seawater.

The export potential is significant. Dozens of countries — particularly in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa — need small-scale nuclear power but lack the grid capacity or capital for full-size plants. CNNC has signed cooperation agreements with multiple countries. The first-mover advantage of actually operating a commercial SMR, rather than just designing one, gives China credibility that no Western SMR developer can yet match.