Dukovany nuclear plant raises unit 3 thermal output

Dukovany nuclear plant raises unit 3 thermal output

Dukovany, South Moravia, April 11 (CTK) - The thermal output of unit three of the Dukovany nuclear power plant has been increased by 2.3 percent to 1,475 megawatts (MW), and energy group CEZ is planning to make the same adjustments to the remaining three units, the plant's spokesman Jiri Bezdek told CTK today.

This is the first time the thermal output of a Dukovany unit has been raised. Dukovany's annual electricity production could increase by 0.3 terawatt hours (TWh) as a result, Bezdek said. Last year, the Dukovany plant delivered 14.3 TWh of electricity to the grid.

The temperature of the water at the outlet of the reactor of the third unit has now risen by about two degrees to 300.4 degrees Celsius. The unit has so far had an electrical output of 500 MW, but by increasing the thermal output it can reach up to 511 MW under optimal conditions.

The plant would like to complete the project of raising all reactors' output next year, said Dukovany head Roman Havlin. If the plant passes all tests, its electricity production could increase by 300,000 MWh from next year.

According to CEZ, the increase in output was preceded by several years of preparation and will not lead to higher fuel consumption.

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