With putting into commercial operation of the innovative super powerful unit No 1 with VVER-1200 reactor Leningrad NPP (a branch of Rosenergoatom JSC, a part of Rosatom’s Electric Energy Division) became the largest NPP in the history of the domestic nuclear power industry. As of 6 December, 2018 the generating capacity of its 5 operating power units was 5,240 MW. This figure was documented in Russia for the first time.

New power unit can generate and give to the Unified Energy System of Russia the electric energy in the accordance with the announced maximum power – this was confirmed by the special inspection of the Interregional Dispatching Office of North-West Energy System during the attestation of the generating equipment.

Andrey Petrov, the Director General of Rosenergoatom JSC: “Putting into commercial operation of the 1st power unit with VVER-1200 reactor of Leningrad NPP-2 has become one of most important events not only for Russian nuclear energy industry, but for country in general. We are completely ready for accomplishment of our responsibilities on energy supply to the wholesale market. Thus, till the end of this year, Leningrad NPP will have the status of the most powerful of all Russian NPPs with operating 5 power units at the same time in the history of Russia and the USSR.”

In addition, Leningrad NPP is the only Plant in Russia where two types of power units operate – light water graphite and water-water reactors. All five power units of LNPP will be operated at the same time till the end of 2018. On 22 December the first RBMK-1000 power unit will be shutdown after 45 years of generation and it will have the status of ‘operation without generation’. The new stage of its life cycle will start – the decommissioning.

Vladimir Pereguda, Leningrad NPP Manager: “This year’s power replacement with a new power unit is not only a replacement. VVER-1200 reactor generates 20% more energy and this means that we provide the start for further development of the industry of North-West. We are completely sure in the safe operation of the new power unit. All inspection proved: the power unit is ready to operate in full accordance with the design for the next 60 years.”

Today Leningrad NPP provides about 50% of electric demand of St. Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast. A share of all North-West is about 30%. Since its connection to the grid (9 March, 2018) the power unit No 1 with VVER-1200 of LNPP has generated more than 2.5 billion kWh of electric energy. It is roughly estimated that the economic effect in the form of additional taxes in the consolidated budget of Leningrad Oblast will amount to more than 3 billion rubles annually.

The innovative, most powerful modern power units with water-water power reactors VVER-1200 of LNPP-2 belong to the latest generation 3+. They use the most advanced achievements and developments that meet all post-Fukushima requirements. Such units are unique and have no analogues in the world. The first similar unit was launched at the end of 2016 at NVNPP-2 (Novovoronezh). Compared with traditional power units of the same type, the VVER-1200 project has a number of advantages that significantly increase its economic performance and safety.

The main feature of the VVER-1200 project is a unique combination of active and passive safety systems that make the plant as resistant as possible to external and internal influences. In particular, a unit with the VVER-1200 reactor uses: a melt trap (a device used to localize the core melt), passive heat removal system through steam generators or SPOT (designed to ensure long-term heat removal from the core into the atmosphere in the absence of any source of power supply), etc.