In Chukotka, in the city of Pevek, the world's first floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) of project 20870, Academician Lomonosov, was launched, according to the Rosatom website. The Director General of Rosenergoatom Concern JSC Andrei Petrov called the inclusion of the station's generators in the network a “historical event”. Next year, Lomonosov will energize the industry of the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.

“Thus, a major step has been taken towards the development of Pevek as the new energy capital of the region, a stronghold for the development of western Chukotka and a key link in the Northern Sea Route. The main objective of the current year has been successfully completed, and the task for the next 2020 is to complete the commissioning of the FNPP for industrial operation, ”Petrov said.

In late August, the "Academician Lomonosov" went to Pevek from Murmansk, where he has been since last year. The floating station covered a path with a length of more than 4.7 thousand km with the help of the Dikson icebreaker and two tugboats. In September, the FNPP moored to the shores of Chukotka. During the fall, the Lomonosov crew carried out a set of commissioning activities related to the preparation for the production of electric and thermal energy.

"Academician Lomonosov" is the most northern nuclear power plant in Russia. This is the 11th nuclear power plant in Russia. In the future, the floating power unit should replace the capacities of the Chaun-Bilibino power center, which includes the Chaun Thermal Power Plant and the Bilibino NPP.

  • "Academician Lomonosov" in Chukotka
  • © JSC Concern Rosenergoatom

According to Rosenergoatom, Academician Lomonosov will create the conditions for accelerated socio-economic development of Chukotka and will become one of the key elements of the infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route. In particular, the operation of the FNPP will help to implement large-scale infrastructure projects and ensure year-round icebreaking support.

“Based on Russian technologies”

The station is equipped with two water-water reactor units of the icebreaking type KLT-40C, which can generate 70 MW of electricity and 50 Gcal / h of thermal energy. The FNPP can provide electricity and heat to a settlement where about 100 thousand people live.

KLT-40C was developed by specialists of Afrikantov OKBM JSC (Nizhny Novgorod) specifically for the "active development of remote areas" rich in minerals - oil, gas, coal, gold, iron ore, rare metals. Also, the reactor can act as a source of energy for enterprises in the processing industry.

The materials of the Afrikantov OKBM say that in difficult climatic conditions, the cost of energy transfer can be several times higher than the cost of its production. However, KLT-40S solves this problem due to low capital and operating costs. The service life of the power unit is 40 years. After its completion, disposal is provided.

An important advantage of the reactor, as the developer notes, is the highest level of safety. It is resistant to accidents, failures, fires, personnel errors, dynamic and shock loads. In addition, the operation of KLT-40S eliminates toxic emissions and air pollution. The radiation impact on the environment is limited to fractions of a percent of the level of natural background.

The design of the “Academician Lomonosov” was carried out by the Central Design Bureau “Iceberg” (St. Petersburg). The station was built at JSC Baltic Plant in the northern capital. In May 2018, the FNPP was towed to Murmansk, where the loading of nuclear fuel took place.

According to Rosatom, the Academician Lomonosov was made “based on Russian nuclear shipbuilding technologies” taking into account the experience of operating nuclear facilities on domestic icebreakers. The displacement of the station is 21 thousand tons, length - about 140 m, width - 30 m, draft - 5.6 m.

  • Towing the "Academician Lomonosov" from Murmansk
  • © JSC Concern Rosenergoatom

Structurally, the station consists of a floating platform, vaguely reminiscent of an icebreaker, hydraulic structures that provide safe parking in the water area, and coastal infrastructure of 1.5 hectares. They are necessary for the transfer of energy to settlements and enterprises.

At present, the specialists of OKBM Afrikantov and Iceberg are creating a new generation of FNPP, which will be more compact and powerful than Lomonosov. The station will be equipped with two water-cooled reactors of the RITM-200M type, which are capable of generating about 100 MW. The displacement of floating nuclear power plants will be 12 thousand tons, length - about 110 m, width - 25 m.

“Widely in demand all over the world”

According to experts interviewed by RT, the use of the FNPP will allow Russia to more effectively explore the vast Arctic spaces, where the issue of power generation and heating is extremely acute. As a rule, in remote areas of the Arctic, mobile diesel power plants are used, the operability of which directly depends on the amount of fuel.

“The operation of the Academician Lomonosov is of great importance for the economic development of the Arctic and other remote regions of Russia, where there is virtually no infrastructure suitable for comfortable economic activity,” said Sergei Pravosudov, director of the National Energy Institute.

According to the expert, in the future Russia will be able to export FNPPs. In addition to various island territories, Africa is experiencing the greatest need for floating nuclear power plants. Extraction of natural resources is rapidly developing on the black continent in the absence of developed infrastructure, Pravosudov argues.

In an interview with RT, nuclear expert, president of the Foundation for Scientific Research and Development of Civil Initiatives Foundation, Aleksey Anpilogov, noted that in the future, the construction of the FNPP will solve many of the problems faced by businesses and people living in the Arctic and other remote regions.

“The energy produced by floating nuclear power plants is quite expensive. But if there is no gas or coal deposit near the locality or enterprise, then there is no other stable source of energy in the Arctic, on islands and remote territories. For example, in Yakutia, diesel generators are used to ensure gold mining. Naturally, the delivery and purchase of this fuel is also not cheap, ”Anpilogov stated.

  • Construction of the "Academician Lomonosov"
  • RIA News
  • © Alexander Halperin

According to the analyst, the FNPP “definitely wins” against diesel power plants, which are often used not only in the Arctic, but also in southern countries, deprived of energy resources. In addition, the disposal of floating nuclear power plants will not require large financial expenses.

“When we talk about nuclear energy, we need to look forward decades. Now the Bilibino NPP is being decommissioned. The disposal of nuclear fuel spent at this nuclear power plant will require so much money that it is possible to build a new station. Therefore, it is advisable to use floating power units in the northern latitudes. As soon as they work out theirs, they will be towed to Murmansk, where there are capacities necessary for utilization, ”Anpilogov explained.

According to the expert, "Academician Lomonosov" is able to solve the problem of energy supply throughout the Chukotka Autonomous Region and will contribute to the economic development of the region. Anpilogov also expects the construction of new nuclear platforms in the 2020s.

“FNPPs can be widely demanded all over the world. I think that in the medium term several new stations will be commissioned. However, their wide distribution is objectively hindered by low gas prices. As soon as they grow, demand for the FNPP will increase, and not only in Russia, ”Anpilogov concluded.