Czech power utility ČEZ has introduced new data-processing techniques to increase efficient operation at its Temelin NPP. By taking into account – factors such as air temperature, humidity and the temperature of cooling water, the optimal setting of the largest circulation pumps can be calculated. Power engineers compare these variables to find the optimal setting, which is then updated twice a day in line with the weather forecast. This cut the plant's electricity consumption by 5400 MWh in 2023 compared with 2022. The plant consumed 803,000 MWh of electricity, which represents about 5% of the electricity produced.
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. ČEZ began introducing artificial intelligence and big data in 2021 at unit 1 of the Temelin plant. “Since last year, we have been making full use of the method for both units, said Temelin Director Jan Krumlov.
“The efficiency of the operation of our power plants is not just about increasing power or managed outages. It is also about savings that can be obtained with optimal traffic management. Last year's savings in Temelín alone would be enough to cover the annual consumption of approximately fifteen hundred Czech households,” noted Bohdan Zronek, ČEZ Board member and Director of the Nuclear Energy Division.
Image: Temelin nuclear power plant
