China's first nuclear project backed by minority private capital hit a major milestone Thursday as Unit 1 of the China General Nuclear Zhejiang San'ao plant connected to the grid, Xinhua News reported Thursday.

Geely Technology Group holds a 2% stake in the initial phase, with private investment jumping to 10% for phase two, reflecting Beijing's push for more private participation in the sector.

The Wenzhou facility will eventually house six domestically developed Hualong One reactors, with three already built or under construction. Once fully operational, it will pump over 54 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually to Zhejiang and the Yangtze River Delta.

The project will meet the yearly power needs of roughly 5.4 million people while slashing coal use by over 16 million tonnes and carbon dioxide emissions by 50 million tonnes annually, said Tang Lyu of State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power.

Zhejiang now boasts over 100 gigawatts of installed clean energy capacity, including more than 10 gigawatts from nuclear power.