French energy giant EDF and its partner China General Nuclear Power Group announced Friday that they have powered up the world's first next-generation EPR nuclear reactor, a major milestone for the industry. The Taishan 1 project has been under development for many years and is the world's first EPR reactor - which uses a pressurised water design - to enter into commercial service.
The two EPR reactors at the Taishan nuclear power plant will be the most powerful in the world when fully completed and can supply 5 million Chinese users, the companies said in a press release. EPR reactors promise advances in safety and efficiency over conventional reactors while producing less waste.
Yet EDF has faced serious problems rolling out the technology and has managed to sell just a handful of the reactors as construction problems piled up. The Taishan project is a joint venture between majority shareholder CGN and minority shareholders EDF and regional Chinese utility Yuedian.