Novovoronezh II-1 passes load following checks

Monday, 18 May 2020

The unit, also known as Novovoronezh-6, may now be operated in the most efficient way and adapt to the needs of the power grid based on demand, state nuclear corporation Rosatom said.

Pilot operation of the unit in load following mode had begun immediately after completion of registration of the relevant changes to the conditions of its operating licence, Rosatom said. On 1-10 May, the unit was operated in daily power control mode, which provides for several different changes during the day, depending on the requirements of the grid.

During the trial operation, plant personnel monitored changes at 96-71-96% and 96-46-96% of the nominal capacity.

Data from the pilot operation will be used for the subsequent implementation of load following mode for the VVER-TOI reactor design, at Kursk in Russia and Paks in Hungary, Rosatom said, thus increasing the competitiveness of its new projects. The first VVER-TOI unit is under construction as part of the Kursk II nuclear power project.

In October 2019, Novovoronezh II-2 became the third and latest VVER-1200 to be commissioned, following Novovoronezh II-1 and Leningrad II-1, which were launched in 2016 and 2017, respectively.