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Marina Röwekamp (GRS, Editor), Heinz-Peter Berg (Editor)
C.-L. Zhang, A. Rogalski, B. Zehle, U. Hertes
• In Slovakia, four pressurised water reactors (PWRs) generate more than half of the total amount of electricity.
• The share of nuclear in the energy mix is to remain roughly the same, while it is intended to replace fossil fuels primarily by renewables.
• Two units are currently under construction, one of which is scheduled to go into operation at the
beginning of 2023.
K.-P. Kröhn
• The UK currently operates nine nuclear power plant (NPP) units at four sites.
• The UK Government has been pursuing the construction of new NPPs for some time. Two new reactors are currently under construction and three more are planned.
• In addition to the construction of large NPPs, the Government also promotes the development and future use of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the UK. Since April 2022, a first concept has been undergoing a so-called Generic Design Assessment (GDA) by the British licensing and supervisory authority, and other companies have applied for a GDA.
On 26 April 1986, an accident with the most serious consequences in the history of the peaceful use of nuclear energy occurred in Unit 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. The course of events and causes of the accident are by now largely understood. However, the effects on people and the environment continue to this day. Recently, the site has been increasingly in the media again due to the Russian war of aggression.
• Romania operates two reactors, with two more units expected to be completed by 2031.
• In addition, Romania plans to build a small modular reactor (SMR) of the US company NuScale. Both projects are financially supported by Washington.
• Four VVER-440 units are operated at the Paks site, generating almost half of Hungary's electricity.
• Construction of two further units at the Paks site started in August 2022.
• The share of nuclear power in the electricity mix, which is currently just under half, is expected to remain at around the same level in the future.
On 16 April 2023 at 01:00 in the morning, just one hour after the final three German nuclear power plants (NPPs) were shut down, the Olkiluoto-3 NPP in Finland began commercial operation. The reactor now feeds the electricity it generates into the Finnish power grid at market conditions. This was preceded by commissioning work and a 30-day trial run. With an electrical output of 1,600 megawatts (MW net), the plant of the European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR) type is the most powerful reactor in the world.
• Olkiluoto-3, Europe's first European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR), was connected to the grid after a considerable delay.
• Until Olkiluoto-3 went on the grid on 15 April 2023, four reactors had produced a good third of the electricity generated in Finland. Olkiluoto-3 now covers an additional 14 percent of Finland's electricity demand.
• The application for a construction licence to build another NPP by the Russian state-owned company ROSATOM at the new Hanhikivi site was withdrawn in May 2022