Beyond power generation: How China's Heqi No. 1 explores nuclear energy to cut carbon emissions

China's first industrial nuclear steam supply project, Heqi No. 1, was officially completed and put into operation at Tianwan Nuclear Power Station in June 2024. The project delivers 4.8 million tons of zero-carbon steam annually to the petrochemical base of Lianyungang city in east China's Jiangsu Province, equivalent to reducing the combustion of 400,000 tons of standard coal each year or planting 2,900 hectares of new woods. This marks the first project of its kind worldwide to produce industrial steam at such a scale using nuclear power.　

The Heqi No. 1 team employed reverse engineering techniques and spent nearly seven months thoroughly analyzing hundreds of parameters of the reactor control system.　In March 2024, the test of the "Reactor-Turbine Heat Matching" technology was successfully completed. While the team focused on technological breakthroughs, construction work was carried out simultaneously.　

Spanning six years from design and development to engineering construction, the Heqi No. 1　project led to 37 technological innovation patents and has contributed significantly to China's experience in the integrated utilization of nuclear energy.