# Chinese SMR ventures top 20 as power demand from data centers jumps *Private reactor developers entered the commercial market on Nov. 12 to supply domestic computing hubs projected to consume 774 terawatt-hours of power by 2030.* **Published:** November 13, 2026 **By:** Wei Zhang **Section:** Semiconductors & AI Hardware — China **Format:** Why It Matters **Confidence:** high **Source:** https://eastasiabrief.com/semiconductors/chinese-smr-ventures-top-20-power-demand-data-centers-1382 **Publisher:** East Asia Brief (https://eastasiabrief.com/) --- ## What to know - More than 20 private Chinese startups are designing small modular reactors as venture funding enters the sector - Junhe Atomic raised 300 million yuan ($44.1 million) from HongShan Capital to deploy demonstration reactors by 2031 - CNNC targets fuel loading at the 125-megawatt Changjiang demonstration reactor before Dec. 31, 2026 ![Two engineers inspect a compact reactor assembly in a facility equipped with robotic arms and server racks. (AI-generated image)](https://eastasiabrief.com/media/2026-11-12-1af03620835a.webp) *Two engineers inspect a compact reactor assembly in a facility equipped with robotic arms and server racks. (AI-generated image)* Chinese startup Weilan NuEnergy said Nov. 12 that more than 20 domestic private ventures are developing small modular reactors, accelerating a commercial race to deploy compact atomic power. The startup cohort seeks to capture power demand from computing infrastructure. Domestic data center electricity consumption will rise to 774 terawatt-hours by 2030, representing roughly 8% of projected national power demand. Private capital entered the sector following state-backed deployments. China has 29 conventional nuclear reactors under construction, representing nearly half of all commercial reactor buildouts worldwide. The influx of private engineering teams began in 2025, driven by surging power consumption across artificial intelligence facilities. Senior engineers from state nuclear utilities left institutional roles to establish independent ventures. Weilan NuEnergy was founded in March 2025 by Hu Po, a graduate of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The Shanghai-based venture focuses on compact reactor designs suited for industrial parks. The company recruited Shen Chunyu, former chief designer of China's Hualong One third-generation reactor, to lead its engineering operations. The design team is developing small pressurized water reactors. Weilan NuEnergy aims to secure commercial orders or break ground on a demonstration reactor within five years. The company selected proven Generation III technology to shorten the regulatory timeline. Another venture, Shanghai Junhe Atomic Technology, was established in 2025 by Tian Jiashu. Tian previously served as deputy chief engineer at China National Nuclear Corporation and China General Nuclear Power Corporation. Junhe Atomic completed a 300 million yuan ($44.1 million) venture funding round led by Neil Shen's HongShan Capital, the former Sequoia China. The company is completing basic engineering designs. The company plans to deploy small reactors on the grounds of retired coal-fired power stations. Junhe Atomic is targeting commercial operation of its first demonstration reactor by 2031. Technical bottlenecks remain in modular fabrication. A Junhe Atomic executive said the company must resolve engineering challenges in structural components, module interfaces and operational efficiency before pouring concrete. Domestic startups rely on an industrial equipment base established during four decades of large-scale nuclear construction. Standardized supply chains for forgings, steam generators and coolant pumps allow private developers to procure parts locally. Domestic manufacturing scale provides a cost advantage over foreign competitors. Chinese fabricators produce reactor pressure vessels and containment modules at lower capital intensity than North American and European suppliers. State-owned utility China National Nuclear Corporation provides the operational template for the private sector. The company is building the 125-megawatt Linglong One demonstration reactor at Changjiang in Hainan province. Linglong One completed cold functional testing in October 2025. The site entered hot functional testing in October 2026, verifying primary cooling systems under operational temperatures before loading nuclear fuel. The Hainan plant is designed to generate 1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. That output will supply power to 526,000 households while supporting desalination and industrial district heating. Western competitors face capital inflation and regulatory delays. Commercial deployment dates for projects led by NuScale Power, TerraPower and GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy have moved toward 2030 or later. American developer Elementl Power established a $750 million partnership with South Korean investors in November 2026. The group plans to build BWRX-300 reactors in Ohio, targeting initial operation in 2034. State energy planners in Beijing published policy directives in October calling for the orderly commercialization of advanced nuclear fission. The framework aims to balance renewable generation with firm baseload electricity. Private developers expect to market modular reactors abroad once domestic pilots establish an operational record. Remote industrial hubs in Southeast Asia and the Middle East represent target markets for factory-built atomic units. China National Nuclear Corporation targets nuclear fuel loading and grid connection at the Changjiang demonstration site before Dec. 31, 2026. Operating data from that unit will establish commercial performance benchmarks for the entire supply chain. The National Nuclear Safety Administration has not published an official registry of private SMR applications, leaving the licensing status and technical filings of most startup designs unverified. Independent development teams continue bench testing modular components, preparing regulatory filings as state utilities validate the first commercial hardware. ## Impact map | Event | Korea | China | Japan | Global impact | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Chinese SMR startup surge | Doosan and Samsung C&T commit capital to US SMR projects while domestic i-SMR design targets 2030 licensing | Startups like Weilan NuEnergy and Junhe Atomic leverage 40-year nuclear manufacturing base to target early 2030s commercial operation | Engineering majors supply heavy forging components to US designs while METI backs bilateral project partnerships | Chinese commercial SMR deployment outpaces Western developers delayed by regulatory approvals and capital inflation | ## In this story - **Companies:** Weilan NuEnergy, Junhe Atomic Technology, China National Nuclear Corporation - **Exposed:** HongShan Capital, GE Vernova, NuScale Power, TerraPower - **Impact:** Supply Chain, Capex, Order Book ## Primary sources 1. mee.gov.cn 2. baomoi.com 3. qq.com 4. sbs.co.kr --- Cite as: East Asia Brief, "Chinese SMR ventures top 20 as power demand from data centers jumps," November 13, 2026. https://eastasiabrief.com/semiconductors/chinese-smr-ventures-top-20-power-demand-data-centers-1382