Russia’s floating Arctic nuclear power plant reaches milestone
The world’s only operational floating nuclear power plant, The Akademik Lomonosov, has reached a milestone by generating over one billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom has revealed. This is enough energy to “make a double espresso for everyone on earth,” it added.
The floating plant, located in the Chukotka Autonomous Area in the Russian Far East, is the world’s northernmost heat and electricity-producing unit. It supplies more than 60% of the region’s energy needs, Rosatom said in a statement on Thursday.
The Akademik Lomonosov is based on technology used in Russian nuclear icebreakers and is fueled by low-enriched uranium. It was designed to supply power to large industrial sites and port cities located in remote areas of the Arctic and Far East.
Measuring 144 meters in length and 30 meters in width, the vessel’s capacity is enough to provide electricity to roughly 100,000 people.
The floating plant currently serves a population of 5,000. It also supports operations in a local copper and gold mine and is used for desalinating water.
Equipped with two reactors, each generating 35 megawatts of electricity, the Akademik Lomonosov began commercial operations in May 2020 and has consistently exceeded state power generation targets. Rosatom credits its success to effective planning and coordinated efforts by on-site and rotating personnel.
Russia’s nuclear energy giant is exploring the construction of four new floating nuclear power plants, each with a capacity of 100 megawatts-electric (MWe) and a lifespan exceeding 60 years.
