The World’s First Fusion-Fission Plant Aims To Generate 100MW Nuclear Power By 2030

China is set to build the world’s first fusion-fission hybrid power plant, marking a revolutionary step in nuclear energy. The facility, known as the Xinghuo high-temperature superconducting reactor, aims to generate 100 megawatts of continuous electricity and connect to the grid by the end of the decade.

The $2.76 billion (20 billion yuan) project has officially entered its first phase, with a public tender issued for an environmental impact assessment, according to zbytb.com, a Chinese procurement and bidding platform. The plant will be constructed on Yaohu Science Island in the hi-tech zone of Nanchang, Jiangxi province.

The environmental impact report will assess factors such as air, water, noise, and ecology. It will also outline risk assessments, pollution control strategies, and long-term monitoring plans. The project’s name, Xinghuo—meaning “spark”—is inspired by a quote from Mao Zedong: “A single spark can start a prairie fire.” Xinghuo is a joint venture between the state-owned China Nuclear Industry 23 Construction Corporation and Lianovation Superconductor, a spin-off of Jiangxi-based Lianovation Optoelectronics. Jiangxi’s abundant copper resources play a crucial role in superconducting technology.

According to a 2023 collaboration agreement, the Xinghuo reactor aims for an energy gain factor (Q value) of more than 30, significantly surpassing the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, which targets a Q value above 10. The US National Ignition Facility achieved a Q value of 1.5 in 2022, indicating an energy output 1.5 times greater than the input.

Fusion, the process that powers the sun, involves fusing light atomic nuclei like hydrogen to release energy, while fission splits heavy atomic nuclei like uranium. Unlike pure fusion projects such as ITER, Xinghuo will combine both technologies. The high-energy neutrons from fusion reactions will trigger fission in surrounding materials, enhancing energy output while potentially reducing nuclear waste.

While the exact timeline for Xinghuo’s construction remains undisclosed, its environmental impact assessment is expected to be completed this year. A 2021 development plan from Jiangxi province set a goal for demonstrating and applying the hybrid project by 2030. Lianovation Superconductor revealed in 2023 that the 100-megawatt facility could be completed within five to six years.

If China completes the hybrid plant on schedule, it will be a major breakthrough, positioning the country ahead of other fusion-fission and pure fusion projects globally. This development could also accelerate progress on the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor, a large-scale fusion-only initiative planned for Hefei, Anhui province, in the mid-2030s—China’s response to ITER.