Energy · 2023

HTR-PM pebble-bed plant

China runs the first commercial high-temperature gas-cooled modular reactor.

The Shidaowan HTR-PM, two 250 MW thermal pebble-bed reactors driving one turbine, entered commercial operation in December 2023. Tests showed it cooled itself safely with all active cooling turned off.

See it in the living tree Wikipedia

Arcs above join it to what it stood on, arcs below to what it led to. The bar places this stretch on the tree's whole timeline.

What it built on 2

Small modular reactor 2020
Pebble-bed reactor 1967

What it led to 1

Small modular reactors in service ~2031

Related measurements

The dashed line marks when it first worked.

Nuclear electricity generation Latest: 2.81k TWh (2025) Source: Our World in Data

Share of electricity from low-carbon sources Latest: 42.6 % (2025) Source: Our World in Data