The Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Station in Liaoning province was put into operation and started providing heating to residents this winter, said its operator China General Nuclear Power Corporation.

This is Northeast China's first commercial nuclear heating project. With a planned heating area of 242,400 square meters, it is expected to replace the 12 existing small boilers in Hongyanhe town, said the company.

The project will reduce coal consumption by 5,726 metric tons annually, and cut emissions of carbon dioxide by 14,000 tons, dust by 209 tons, sulfur dioxide by 60 tons and nitrogen oxide by 85 tons, it said.

Located in Wafangdian of Dalian, Liaoning province, Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Station is also the first nuclear power plant and the largest electric energy investment project in Northeast China.

The first phase saw four generating units put into use by 2016, and the second phase consisting of two more generating units became fully operational and ready for commercial operation in June 2022. It has substantially contributed to stabilizing northeastern China's regional power supply.

The six units can generate 48 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year, accounting for about 20 percent of the total electricity consumption in Liaoning province, it said.

Compared to coal-fired power plants, the nuclear power plant could save 14.52 million tons of coal consumption and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 39.93 million tons a year, equivalent to planting 108,000 hectares of trees, said the company.

zhengxin@chinadaily.com.cn