Study on Current Status and Future Developments in Nuclear-Power Industry of Ukraine

Abstract

Nuclear power in Ukraine is the most important source of electricity generation. Currently, Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) generate 45.5% of the total electricity in the country followed with coal generation – 38%, gas generation 9.6% and the rest is based on renewable sources, mainly on hydro power plants – 5.9%. Nuclear-power industry is based on 4 NPPs including the largest one in Europe – Zaporizhzhya NPP with about 6,000 MWel gross installed capacity. These NPPs are equipped with 13 VVER-1000 and 2 VVER-440 Russian-design Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) with the total gross installed capacity of 13,800 MWel. Layout of these NPPs, thermodynamic diagram and thermal efficiencies are provided. Thermal efficiencies have been calculated with the IAEA Desalination Thermodynamic Optimization Programme DE-TOP and compared to the actual ones. Two of these reactors have been built and put into operation in 70-s, ten in 80-s, one in 90-s and just two in 2004. Therefore, based on an analysis of the world power reactors in terms of their maximum years of operation (currently, the oldest reactors are 45-year old) several projections have been made for future of the nuclear-power industry in Ukraine. Unfortunately, all these projections are quite pessimistic. There is a possibility that around 2030–2035 the vast majority of the Ukrainian reactors will be shut down, and Ukraine can be left without the basic and vital source of electricity generation. Also, current problems of Ukrainian NPPs are: 1) lower capacity factors (around 80%) compared to those in other countries (∼90%); 2) uncertainties with nuclear-fuel supply due to political situation; and 3) service and repairs of relatively old reactors.

Behaviour of dissolved inorganic salts in the cooling water of a nuclear power plant open recirculation system and formation of water discharge

“…Obviously, such emissions include radioactive and non-radioactive substances. In Ukraine, more nuclear units at existing NPPs are projected to have a total capacity of up to 22 GW [4]. Similar strategies are accepted in the USA, China, India and many other countries [1][2][3][4].…”

“…In Ukraine, more nuclear units at existing NPPs are projected to have a total capacity of up to 22 GW [4]. Similar strategies are accepted in the USA, China, India and many other countries [1][2][3][4]. National safety, including reliable energy supply, is always of the highest priority.…”

Improvement of turbogenerators as a technical basis for ensuring the energy independence of Ukraine

“…Therefore, the goal of this work is to identify promising directions for sustainable development of the national electric power industry in order to ensure the energy security of Ukraine, conduct a comparative analysis of electricity sources and confirm the need to improve the main sourcesturbogeneratots. Here, the main issue, one of the most serious problems for any national manufacturer, is energy saving [1][2][3][4]. The solution to the problem of energy saving is especially important for Ukraine, where at present the production of a unit of GDP on average consumes almost 3 times more energy resources than in European countries [1,3,5].…”

“…Here, the main issue, one of the most serious problems for any national manufacturer, is energy saving [1][2][3][4]. The solution to the problem of energy saving is especially important for Ukraine, where at present the production of a unit of GDP on average consumes almost 3 times more energy resources than in European countries [1,3,5]. Energy saving is one of the most important factors contributing to an increase in the level of energy security, which is one of the most important elements of sustainable economic development for both exporting and importing countries of energy resources.…”