To prevent a long-term shutdown of the power system, the government of Ukraine will deploy a network of mini-power plants, the Ministry of Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories announced on its website.
Mini-power plants will ensure the safety of energy-generating enterprises by providing electricity for the enterprise’s own needs. They will also help ensure water supply and heating in settlements.
The Ministry does not disclose the principle of operation, technical characteristics, number and location of new power plants, limiting itself to the most general data: these will be small objects that do not require special maintenance. It is noted that 20 such stations are capable of producing the power of one nuclear unit (1000 MW) – from here you can get an average power of 50 MW. It is also indicated that 100-150 MW is needed to start a nuclear unit, which is sufficient for a mini-power plant.
As a result of Russia’s missile attack on energy facilities in Ukraine and the damage to almost all thermal power plants, the energy system is experiencing difficulties in producing the required amount of energy. The country’s largest Zaporizhzhya NPP (6 power units of 1,000 MW each) was seized by the Russian occupiers and does not produce electricity. As a result of shelling, the lines that provide the own needs of this and other power plants are damaged, it is not always possible to start their emergency generators. Additional low-power sources could help in the current situation.
Previously, we already wrote about the cooperation of Ukraine and the USA in the creation of small modular nuclear reactors (SMR). However, the pilot installation of this project should appear no earlier than in 2-3 years.
Ukraine’s energy system will be stabilized by the summer if there are no new shellings – Minister of Energy
