V. I. Borysenko, A. V. Nosovskyi of the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants, NAS of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine provided information on the pace of construction and commissioning of nuclear power units at nuclear power plants in the world over the past 60 years. Nuclear energy is the most important factor in ensuring the energy independence of Ukraine.
As of 2022, 80% of the entire fleet of Ukrainian nuclear power units (12 out of 15) have already been in operation for more than 30 years. In the world, this figure is 68%. Two power units with VVER-440 reactors have been in operation for more than 40 years, and by 2028 the number of power units at
Ukrainian NPPs, that have been in operation for more than 40 years, will increase to 10. Therefore, the need and importance of introducing a program for the construction of new nuclear power units to ensure energy independence of Ukraine are obvious.
The authors discussed the most important characteristics of the modern AP1000 reactor unit, which is licensed in the USA, Canada and some other countries. Information is presented on the advantages of the AP1000 project over other modern reactor plants EPR-1750, APR-1400, VVER-1200, as well as issues that need to be paid special attention, when performing the relevant stages of work on the justification and implementation of the AP1000 technology in the nuclear power industry of Ukraine. For example, the installed capacity utilization factor of operating power units with EPR-1750,
APR-1400, VVER-1200 is lower than for АР1000.
When justifying the decision to choose AP1000, it is necessary to pay attention to the already known problematic issues of implementing Westinghouse technology. It is recommended to involve the institutes of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in the work, related to the scientific and technical substantiation of the choice of promising nuclear installations for Ukrainian NPPs.
References
1. The Database on Nuclear Power Reactors. Power Reactor Information System (PRIS). IAEA: official website. Available at: https://pris.iaea.org/pris .
2. Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR “On the moratorium on the construction of new nuclear power plants in the Ukrainian SSR” dated 02.08.1990, no. 134-XII. Available at: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/ show/134–12. (in Ukr.)
3. Law of Ukraine “On the location, design and construction of power units no. 3 and 4 of the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant” dated 06.09.2012, no. 5217-VI. Vidomosti Verkhovnoi Rady Ukrainy [Bulletin of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine], 2013, no. 42, art. 583. (in Ukr.)
4. Energy strategy of Ukraine for the period up to 2035 “Security, energy efficiency, competitiveness”. Approved by the Order of the Cabinet of Ministers dated 18.08.2017 no. 605-p, 66 p. (in Ukr.)
5. Memorandum on construction of new power units in Ukraine signed between Energoatom and Westinghouse. Energoatom: official website. Available at: https://www.energoatom.com.ua/en/press_center-19/company20/p/memorandum_on_construction_of_new_power_units_in_ukraine_signed_between_energoatom_and_westinghouse-47993 . (in Ukr.)
6. Agreements signed between Energoatom and Westinghouse for constructing new nuclear power units in Ukraine. Energoatom: official website. Available at:
https://www.energoatom.com.ua/en/press_center19/company20/p/agreements_signed_between_energoatom_and_westinghouse_for_constructing_new_nuclear_power_units_in_ukraine-48509. (in Ukr.)
7. Gaio P. (2009). Westinghouse. AP1000: The PWR Revisited. Proceedings of an International Conference “Opportunities and Challenges for Water Cooled Reactors in the 21st Century” (Vienna, Austria, 27–30 October, 2009).
8. China Nuclear News Weekly Roundup — 07/30–08/03. NicobarGroup: official website. Available at:
http://www.nicobargroup.com/news-views-1/?offset=1534152278098 .
9. AP‑1000 in China — lessons and new questions. ATOMINFO.RU. Available at: http://atominfo.ru/newsh/o0557.htm
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