Linglong One (ACP100) by China National Nuclear Corporation: status and timeline

Linglong One (ACP100)

A 125 MW pressurized water reactor for distributed power, desalination and process heat. Demonstration unit under construction at Hainan Island; first to receive IAEA design safety review (2016).

PilotStage 3 of 5

First commercial land-based SMR design; fuel loading and grid connection targeted for 2027.

Updated 23 Dec 2025Checked 10 Oct0 updates this week

Milestones

Next · Hot functional testing begins

IAEA design safety review approval2016Complete.
First concrete poured at Changjiang siteJul 2021Complete.
Cold functional testing completed16 Oct 2025Complete.
Non-nuclear steam test completed23 Dec 2025Complete.
Hot functional testing beginsTarget Oct 2026Current milestone.
Fuel loading and criticalityTarget 2027Not yet reached.
Grid connection and commercial operationTarget 2027Not yet reached.

Most important updates

Upcoming

Oct 2026Hot functional testing begins (next)
2027Fuel loading and criticality
2027Grid connection and commercial operation

Current obstacles

International market adoptionCompeting with established designs from Westinghouse, NuScale and others; utilities outside China often favor proven large reactors.
Cost per megawatt at production scaleSMRs have higher per-MW construction costs than large reactors; manufacturing learning curves must improve as deployment volume grows.

Physics limits

Thermal efficiency ceilingAll light water reactors are thermodynamically limited to roughly 33% efficiency; higher temperatures require exotic materials and different designs.
Practical limits on unit sizeLarger thermal power requires bigger vessels, stronger containment and larger emergency systems; there are constructability and safety trade-offs.

How it works

3 parts

Reactor

Pressurized water design

Light water PWR design at 125 MW with integral steam generators, reducing coolant loops and cost.

Fuel

Low-enriched uranium

CNNC controls entire cycle from mining to reprocessing; standard uranium dioxide fuel.

Applications

Distributed power and industrial heat

125 MW suits remote grids, desalination, and industrial heat applications where smaller reactors reduce capital costs and siting constraints.

Spec sheet

Spec	Linglong One (ACP100)
Electrical output	125 MW^R (reported)
Thermal output	385 MW^R (reported)
Annual electricity production capacity	1 billion kWh^R (reported)
Households powered annually (estimated)	~526,000^R (reported)
Design lifetime	60 years^R (reported)
Refueling interval	2 years^R (reported)
Construction duration	58 months^R (reported)

^R reported by the company

Update log

2 updates

Tue 23 Dec 2025

Major: Linglong One passes non-nuclear turbine test, confirming energy conversion systemsPressTest

Thu 16 Oct 2025

Major: Linglong One completes cold functional testing ahead of hot commissioning phasePressTest

About China National Nuclear Corporation

The team behind Linglong One (ACP100)

China National Nuclear Corporation

Nuclear power, Linglong One SMR, Hualong One reactor

CNNC is China's state-owned nuclear enterprise, developing the Linglong One (ACP100), a 125 MW small modular reactor in construction at Hainan Island.

State-owned enterprise with 170,000 employees under China's central government.
Operates entire fuel cycle: uranium mining, enrichment, fuel assembly, spent fuel reprocessing, and power generation.
Linglong One (ACP100) is a 125 MW small modular reactor, world's first land-based SMR design to pass IAEA safety review (2016).

en.cnnc.com.cn (opens en.cnnc.com.cn)Company profile →

Founded: 195571 yrs
Headquarters: China
Status: Private
Valuation: private
Staff: ~170,000Jan 2025
Works in: EnergyFission
Coverage: 1 program · 2 updateslatest 23 Dec 2025checked 10 Oct
Customers: Changjiang site (Hainan Island)
Partners: China National Nuclear Power Company

Spec

Linglong One (ACP100)

Electrical output

125 MW^R (reported)

Thermal output

385 MW^R (reported)

Annual electricity production capacity

1 billion kWh^R (reported)

Households powered annually (estimated)

~526,000^R (reported)

Design lifetime

60 years^R (reported)

Refueling interval

2 years^R (reported)

Construction duration

58 months^R (reported)