The nuclear power plant in Haiyang (Photo provided by State Power Investment Corporation)

This winter, residents in east China’s Shandong province could have access to a clean source of heating following the operation of the first phase of a nuclear power plant in Haiyang of Yantai city on Nov 5.

Upon its operation, the project started to provide heating for its 30 surrounding residential communities covering an area of 700,000 square meters.

The plant is China's first commercial nuclear-powered heating plant and is projected to save 23,200 tons of coal per year. By 2023, the plant is expected to radiate an area of 30 million square meters, and reach a heating area of 200 million square meters.

“Under the new heating system, the indoor temperatures are stable and cozy,” said a local resident, adding that the coal-fired heating system could result in higher-than-wanted indoor temperatures and air pollution.

The nuclear-powered heating system is very clean as it has replaced a 65-ton coal-fired boiler and significantly reduced air pollutants emission, such as smoke and dust, sulfur dioxide, and carbon dioxide. Moreover, the heating system is very safe, posing no risks to residents around it.

The pipes used in the project, with a total length of five kilometers, cost more than 30 million Yuan, according to the project contractor.

An industry insider explains that the nuclear power plant is more expensive than coal-fired boilers on the same scale, but the operational costs of the nuclear-powered heating system are much lower than that of coal-burning boilers. What’s more, the lifespan of a nuclear-power heating system could reach 60 to 80 years, which is three to four times longer than that of coal-fired boilers.