MOSCOW, August 16. /TASS/. Russia’s civil nuclear power corporation Rosatom will prepare a feasibility study by 2023 for new conceptual projects of super-VVER (water-cooled water-moderated) large-capacity nuclear power plants, according to the corporation’s innovative development and technological upgrade program through 2030 released on Tuesday.
The document gives no details of the project.
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The idea of creating a super-VVER has existed for quite a long time. The evolutionary variant of the super-VVER reactor was proposed by specialists of Russia’s Kurchatov Nuclear Research Institute in 2009.
It was presumed that a new reactor would help stabilize the fuel component, reduce financial risks and increase the competitiveness of domestic projects in competition with foreign rivals. The Institute’s specialists expected an NPP with a reactor of this type to be built already by 2021.
As of now, Russia operates 10 NPPs. Overall, 35 power units are operational, including 18 with VVER-type reactors, 15 with channel-type reactors and two with BN-600 and BN-800 fast neutron reactors.