Ling Ao is a 4,152 MW nuclear power station in Guangdong, China. It is operated by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN). Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 9.4 million homes (estimated). It ranks #77 of 6,685 China power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, nuclear supplies about 4.6% of China's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (41.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1061023.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000500317; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 4,152 MW, Ling Ao is below the median nuclear plant in China (5,000 MW). Technically it is described as pressurized water reactor. Nuclear plants split uranium to raise steam with no direct CO₂; they run as steady baseload with very high capacity factors and the longest operating lifetimes of any thermal plant.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of China nuclear capacity
- 1.3% of 313,184 MW across 72 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1 of 22 dated nuclear plants in China is older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest nuclear plants in China
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN).
Local climate & thermal context
This nuclear plant uses heat from nuclear fission to raise steam for a turbine-generator. It sits in a humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 22.6°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 88% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 18/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #40 largest nuclear power plant of 72 in China by capacity.
China has 72 nuclear power plants in this dataset, together about 313,184 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Daya Bay · Nuclear · 2,010 MW · Guangdong
- CNOOC Shenzhen power plant · Gas · 595 MW · Guangdong
- Shenzhen Dongbu · Gas · 1,116 MW · Guangdong
- Shenzhen East · Gas · 1,050 MW · Guangdong
- Xichong Dapeng power station · Coal · 2,000 MW · Guangdong
- Huizhou Daya Bay Petrochemical Zone Comprehensive Energy Station · Gas · 1,330 MW · Guangdong
Location
Coordinates 22.6, 114.55 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Ling Ao?
Ling Ao is a 4,152 MW nuclear power plant in Guangdong, China, commissioned in 2002.
Who operates Ling Ao?
Ling Ao is operated by China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN).