China is advancing the commercialisation of its self-developed nuclear microreactor technology, which could provide portable, low-carbon power for a range of applications.

A new industrial platform was launched in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, on October 20, with Sichuan Energy Development Group and the China Nuclear Power Research and Design Institute jointly establishing Sichuan Nuclear Energy Industry Co., Ltd. to drive the technology’s development and commercial application.

Designed to generate less than 10 megawatts of electricity, microreactors offer a compact alternative to conventional nuclear power systems. Their reactor cores can be as small as a household refrigerator, while an entire power generation system can be transported in just two or three containers, allowing it to be deployed by road, air or sea.

Safety is central to the design. The reactors use uranium-zirconium hydride fuel, which naturally suppresses nuclear reactions as temperatures rise, helping prevent overheating. Combined with a lead-bismuth cooling system, the technology could simplify infrastructure requirements and shorten construction times to within 30 months, bringing flexible nuclear power closer to practical use.