China's Linglong One: The World's First Commercial Land-Based SMR Enters Service in 2026

China stands 10 to 15 years ahead of the United States in deploying fourth-generation nuclear reactors at scale. That gap becomes concrete in H1 2026, when the Linglong One—the world's first commercial land-based small modular reactor—begins commercial operation on Hainan Island while America's only licensed SMR, NuScale's Power Module, has no construction underway.

The 125 MW reactor, also known as the ACP100, completed cold functional testing and non-nuclear steam start-up in late 2025. Built by China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) over a 58-month construction period, Linglong One passed the International Atomic Energy Agency's safety review in 2016—becoming the first SMR globally to achieve that milestone. For data center operators evaluating behind-the-meter nuclear options, the Chinese SMR's operational debut forces a strategic question: by the time Western SMRs reach commercial deployment in the 2030s, will China have already locked up the global market?

TL;DR

• First Commercial SMR: Linglong One (ACP100) targets H1 2026 commercial operation at Changjiang site, Hainan Province
• 125 MW Capacity: Produces 1 billion kWh annually—enough for 526,000 households
• 58-Month Construction: First concrete July 2021, completion expected 2026—demonstrating Chinese execution speed
• IAEA Certified: First SMR worldwide to pass IAEA safety review (2016)
• Export Strategy: CNNC pursuing deals with Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia under Belt & Road Initiative
• US Gap: Only one NRC-licensed SMR (NuScale); Kairos Hermes is the only licensed SMR under construction
• Geopolitical Stakes: Nuclear exports create decades-long dependency for fuel and maintenance, giving suppliers lasting leverage
• Data Center Timeline: Western SMRs unlikely before 2030; China's 2026 deployment creates technology and export momentum

Technical Specifications

The ACP100, developed by CNNC over 15 years, represents China's answer to the global demand for scalable, flexible nuclear power (Energy News Pro).

Key Design Features:

The reactor employs a fully integrated module with internal coolant systems. In accident scenarios, core heat dissipates through passive means—gravity and natural circulation—achieving long-term cooling without active intervention (Interesting Engineering).

The modular design allows factory construction with site installation, theoretically enabling faster deployment and quality control compared to traditional field-built reactors. CNNC claims this approach reduces construction complexity while maintaining safety margins.

Construction Timeline and Milestones

The Linglong One project demonstrates Chinese infrastructure execution capabilities that have repeatedly outpaced Western projections.

Project Timeline:

The 58-month construction timeline—if achieved—would establish a benchmark for SMR deployment that Western projects have not approached. For context, the NuScale UAMPS project in Idaho was canceled in 2023 after years of delays and cost escalation before construction even began (World Nuclear News).

Recent Test Results:

CNNC announced successful completion of non-nuclear steam start-up testing on December 23, 2025. This test validates:

• Turbine-generator functionality
• Balance of plant systems
• Control system integration
• Steam cycle performance

Cold functional testing, completed earlier in 2025, verified reactor coolant system integrity and safety system operability without nuclear fuel (Global Times).

Output and Environmental Impact

The Linglong One's capacity positions it for diverse applications beyond traditional baseload power generation.

Annual Production:

• 1 billion kWh electricity annually
• Sufficient for 526,000 households
• Approximately 1 million people served

Environmental Benefits:

• 880,000 tons CO2 avoided annually (compared to coal)
• Equivalent to planting 7.5 million trees

Multi-Purpose Design:

Unlike large reactors optimized purely for electricity, the ACP100 architecture supports:

• Electricity generation
• District heating
• Industrial steam production
• Seawater desalination

This flexibility makes SMRs attractive for emerging markets with diverse energy needs and weaker grid infrastructure. CNNC's Wang Zhenqing has stated that China will deploy Linglong One and similar small reactors "predominantly to meet power demand in places with weaker grids" (NucNet).

Global SMR Competition

Linglong One's commercial debut arrives in a competitive landscape where China and Russia have established operational SMR capabilities while the United States remains in pre-construction phases.

Operational SMR Status (2026):

United States SMR Status:

The contrast is stark. The United States has achieved design certification but broken ground on only one research-scale reactor. China will have an operating commercial SMR before America begins construction on its first (National Interest).

Analyst Assessment:

Industry observers assess that China stands 10-15 years ahead of the United States in deploying fourth-generation nuclear reactors at scale. This lead reflects not technology gaps—American designs are competitive—but regulatory timelines, construction execution, and state-backed financing that Western market structures cannot match (ITIF).

China's Export Strategy

Linglong One's commercial operation enables CNNC to offer something no Western vendor can: a proven, operational SMR with demonstrated construction costs and timelines.

Belt & Road Nuclear Expansion:

CNNC has integrated SMR exports into China's Belt & Road Initiative, signing agreements with multiple countries:

At least 25 countries participate in nuclear reactor cooperation under the Belt & Road Initiative (National Academies).

Turnkey Package Approach:

China's export strategy differs fundamentally from Western approaches. Rather than selling reactors piecemeal, CNNC offers:

• Complete reactor design and construction
• Fuel cycle services
• Workforce training
• Long-term financing
• Ongoing maintenance support

This bundled approach, underwritten by Chinese state-owned enterprises, creates competitive financing terms that Western private developers cannot match (Asia Times).

Strategic Dependency:

The export model creates lasting relationships—and leverage. Nuclear reactor purchases create decades-long dependency for:

• Fuel supply (often tied to reactor sales)
• Maintenance and parts
• Operating expertise
• Eventual decommissioning

Russia has demonstrated this model effectively, tying fuel supply contracts to reactor sales. China's growing SMR capability raises similar concerns about supply chain and geopolitical risks for recipient countries (Wilson Center).

Implications for Data Center Power

For data center operators evaluating long-term power strategies, the global SMR race matters more than any single deployment.

Current Data Center Nuclear Interest:

Major hyperscalers have announced SMR partnerships:

Behind-the-Meter SMR Potential:

SMRs can be deployed behind-the-meter with direct connection to data center infrastructure, offering:

• Dedicated power supply independent of grid constraints
• Reduced transmission losses
• Cost efficiencies from direct connection
• Carbon-free baseload generation

However, NRC co-location approval for behind-the-meter nuclear remains extremely rare. The regulatory pathway, not technology, constrains deployment (Last Energy).

Realistic Western Timelines:

Data centers under construction today cannot rely on SMR power. Facilities planned for the 2030s may have options, but timeline risk remains significant (Stantec).

China's Competitive Advantage:

If Western SMR deployments slip—as the NuScale Idaho cancellation demonstrated can happen—data center operators in emerging markets may face pressure to consider Chinese alternatives. Countries seeking rapid AI infrastructure buildout may prioritize execution certainty over geopolitical alignment.

US Response: Trump Executive Orders

The Trump administration's May 2025 nuclear executive orders directly target the China gap.

Key Initiatives:

• 400 GW by 2050: Quadrupling US nuclear capacity from current ~100 GW
• DOE Reactor Pilot Program: 11 reactor designs bypassing NRC, targeting July 4, 2026 criticality
• NRC Regulatory Reform: 18-month licensing deadline mandate
• 10 large reactors under construction by 2030: Near-term scale goal

Structural Challenges:

Even with regulatory acceleration, the United States faces constraints China has addressed:

The executive orders address regulatory timelines but cannot instantly create supply chains, workforces, or financing structures that took China decades to develop (Foreign Affairs).

Allied Response and Coordination

Recognizing the competitive threat, Western nations are exploring coordinated approaches to SMR development.

Potential Alliance Framework:

Analysts recommend a multilateral nuclear energy organization that could:

• Align regulatory regimes across US, Europe, Japan, and allies
• Offer competitive financing packages rivaling Chinese terms
• Share technology development costs
• Create standardized designs for faster deployment

The goal: offer emerging economies alternatives to Chinese and Russian packages that include financing, training, and long-term support (CATF).

Current Alliance Activity:

These projects demonstrate alliance potential but remain years from operational status—time during which China continues accumulating operational experience and export momentum.

Key Takeaways

1. First-Mover Reality: China's Linglong One achieves commercial operation in H1 2026 while America's only licensed SMR has no construction underway—a 10-15 year capability gap made concrete.

2. IAEA Certification Matters: Linglong One passed IAEA safety review in 2016, establishing international credibility that enables export competition before operation even begins.

3. 58-Month Benchmark: If achieved, the construction timeline sets a standard that Western projects have not approached, demonstrating execution advantage beyond technology.

4. Export Momentum Building: CNNC's Belt & Road integration means Linglong One's success immediately translates to competitive positioning across 25+ partner countries.

5. Dependency Creation: Chinese reactor exports create decades-long relationships for fuel, maintenance, and expertise—strategic leverage that extends far beyond the initial sale.

6. Data Center Constraints: Western SMRs remain realistically unavailable until 2030+; facilities under construction today cannot rely on this power source.

7. Regulatory Speed vs. Reality: Trump executive orders target timeline compression, but workforce, supply chain, and financing gaps require years to address regardless of regulatory changes.

8. Alliance Coordination Critical: Only multilateral approaches offering competitive financing and aligned regulations can realistically challenge Chinese and Russian market momentum.

What Introl Is Watching

The global SMR race affects long-term data center power strategy across every market. At Introl, our field engineering teams track developments that impact high-performance computing infrastructure deployment.

Near-Term Indicators:

• Linglong One commercial operation announcement timing
• DOE Reactor Pilot Program progress toward July 4, 2026 milestones
• CNNC export agreement announcements
• HALEU production capacity developments

Strategic Implications:

• Western data center operators' nuclear partnership timelines
• Emerging market infrastructure decisions
• Supply chain developments for SMR components
• Workforce training program expansions

The SMR race is not simply a technological competition. The winner shapes global energy infrastructure, creates lasting geopolitical relationships, and determines which nations lead the electrification that AI and data centers are driving. China's H1 2026 milestone marks a significant advance in that contest.

For coverage of nuclear power developments affecting data center infrastructure, visit Introl's analysis hub.