Bohdan Zronek, CEZ Board Member and Director of the Nuclear Energy Division said: “As part of the selection, we will assess the qualifications of the candidates, then invite them to submit tenders. We would like to make a choice next spring.” The basic qualification criterion is a demonstrable experience with the production, supply and service of a generator that produces electricity at 3000 revolutions per minute. Modernisation of generators is viewed as one of the key projects that will help to ensure the long-term operation of the Temelín plant. “We want to operate the power plant for at least 60 years,” said Temelín NPP Director Jan Krumlov. “We will change the generators in the middle of this period.”
The Czech Republic has six commercially operational reactor units: four Russian designed VVER-440 units at Dukovany site, which began operation between 1985 and 1987, and the two VVER-1000 units at Temelín. Total installed nuclear capacity is 3934 MWe accounting for 32.5% of electricity generation.
CEZ spokesman Marek Sviták said CEZ has launched an extensive project at the Temelín and Dukovany to increase the efficiency of these sources. As a result of longer fuel campaigns, it expects total electricity supplies to grow by 3-4%. Temelín is transitioning to an 18-month campaign and Dukovany to a 16-month fuel cycle. It is also modernising and preparing the construction of new nuclear resources as well as extending the life of both NPPs to 60 years. Investment this year will total almost CZK6bn ($270m). This included acquisition of the Pilsen-based Nuclear Engineering Škoda.
