Fortum, a Nordic vitality firm with headquarters in Espoo, Finland, close to Helsinki, and workplaces in 10 different nations, introduced that it’s going to modernize the Loviisa nuclear energy plant’s low-pressure generators. The venture will begin in 2026 as a part of lifetime extension-related investments on the web site.
The Lovissa plant is a dual-unit facility with a complete web capability of about 1,014 MW (Determine 1). Unit 1 was commissioned in 1977 and Unit 2 in 1980. The plant is situated about 100 kilometers east of Helsinki and supplied about 10% of Finland’s electrical energy manufacturing in 2023, with the models working at capability elements of 89.79% and 92.32%, respectively. The modernization of the generators is predicted to extend the overall capability of the plant by roughly 38 MW.
In February 2023, the Finnish authorities granted a brand new working license for the facility plant till 2050. Consequently, Fortum expects to carry out steady enhancements to make sure dependable electrical energy manufacturing for no less than the following 26 years. Fortum mentioned it has invested roughly €200 million in refurbishing the Loviisa energy plant over the previous 5 years, and it estimated that investments associated to the lifetime extension will quantity to about €1 billion by 2050.
“Extending the lifetime of the facility plant is a significant funding with a constructive affect—each economically and when it comes to employment. Modernizing the low-pressure generators is our first important funding in preparation for the lifetime extension. Our purpose is for the facility plant to function throughout the brand new working license interval simply as stably, reliably, and safely because it has thus far,” Sasu Valkamo, senior vp of the Loviisa energy plant, mentioned in a press release.
Doosan Škoda Energy was chosen because the provider for the low-pressure turbine job. The modernization will likely be carried out along side regular annual outages. Within the turbine venture, eight low-pressure turbine housings and their inner elements will likely be renewed. This specific modernization is focusing on solely the generators, so it received’t affect the reactor plant or nuclear security. The venture is predicted to considerably enhance the effectivity of the turbine plant’s electrical energy manufacturing with out growing the thermal output of the reactor.
“Doosan Škoda Energy is a seasoned turbine provider, and we have now good experiences working with them. In our earlier modernization venture, Doosan Škoda Energy additionally provided us with high-pressure generators,” Valkamo mentioned.
Radek Trněný, head of Gross sales Nuclear at Doosan Škoda Energy, mentioned, “Fortum is our long-term buyer and we’re very proud to be a part of this new necessary modernization venture on the Loviisa nuclear energy plant. Nuclear energy is a strategic section for us, and this contract is additional affirmation that we’re heading in the right direction.”
Doosan Škoda Energy is a number one international producer and provider of energy plant equipment, particularly steam turbine-generator units with outputs between 3 MW and 1,200 MW. The corporate is a part of the Doosan Group, which provides applied sciences and companies to prospects everywhere in the world.
Fortum, in the meantime, has greater than 150 energy vegetation in its fleet. Along with the Lovissa plant, Fortum additionally owns shares in Olkiluoto Items 1, 2, and three, Oskarshamn Unit 3, and Forsmark Items 1, 2, and three. Fortum additionally has hydro, mixed warmth and energy (CHP), photo voltaic, and wind energy vegetation. It touts a 98% CO2-free electrical energy technology portfolio. It’s the third-largest energy generator within the Nordic nations and one of many main warmth producers globally.
—Aaron Larson is POWER’s government editor (@POWERmagazine).
