Alstom has announced a deal with Dongfang Electric Corp. to install the French company's steam turbines in Westinghouse nuclear plants planned in China.
In a release Thursday, Alstom said it reached a broad agreement to supply turbine and generator packages for future Chinese AP 1000 reactor projects. It will also introduce the Arabelle LP69 long-last-stage blade technology to the Chinese market. Alstom said the first contract under the new agreement will be signed shortly.
The announcement did not speculate on how many plants the new contract might cover. The World Nuclear Association list Dongfang as a contractor or expected contractor to supply Alstom steam turbine technology at new reactors in Ningde, Fuqing, Fangjiashan, Tianwan and Taishan.
Alstom has a presence in China that dates back 20 years, according to a release, and the company has provided more than half of the turbine and generator packages in the country. This includes steam turbines for reactors at Hongyanhe, Ling Ao and Taishan. Chinese energy policy identifies the AP1000 and a domestic version of the design as major parts of its move toward Generation III reactor technology. As many as 40 AP1000 units have been planned in the country.