Nuclear energy in the Czech Republic: history and prospects

The Czech Republic is a Central European country whose economy relies heavily on energy production to support industry and economic growth. The country draws its electricity from a variety of sources, including fossil fuels, nuclear power and renewable energies. In 2020, the breakdown of electricity generation in the Czech Republic was 49.6% coal, 34.7% nuclear, 10.8% renewables and 4.9% natural gas [1].

Nuclear power plays a key role in the Czech Republic’s electricity generation and contributes to the diversification of its energy mix. With a history dating back to the 1960s, the country has two operating nuclear power plants using VVER reactor technology. Several innovative power plant and reactor projects are under development to expand nuclear power generation and meet future energy challenges.

History of nuclear power generation in the Czech Republic

The history of nuclear power in the Czech Republic dates back to the 1960s, when the country was still part of Czechoslovakia. At that time, the Czechoslovak authorities launched a research and development program for the exploitation of nuclear energy for civilian purposes. The first nuclear research reactor, VVER-440, was built in 1964 at Řež, near Prague [2].

Construction of the first commercial nuclear power plant began in 1979 at Dukovany, and the first unit was commissioned in 1985 [3]. Today, the Dukovany plant comprises four units, supplying around 20% of the country’s electricity [4]. The second nuclear power plant, Temelín, was commissioned in 2000 and comprises two units [5].

Nuclear reactor technologies used in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic mainly uses Russian-designed pressurized water reactors (VVER) for nuclear power generation. VVER reactors are similar to the pressurized water reactors (PWRs) used in the USA and Western Europe. They use enriched uranium as fuel and pressurized water as moderator and coolant.

The Dukovany power plant is equipped with four VVER-440 reactors, with a total output of 1,760 megawatts of electricity (MWe) [4]. The Temelín power plant is equipped with two VVER-1000 reactors, with a total output of 2,000 MWe [5]. Both plants are operated by ČEZ, which is majority-owned by the Czech state.

Innovative power plant and reactor projects in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic is planning to expand its nuclear power generation to meet the growing demand for electricity and reduce its dependence on fossil fuels. A number of innovative power plant and reactor projects are under development or under study.

Expansion of nuclear power plants

The Czech government has approved a plan to extend the Dukovany nuclear power plant, which includes the construction of a new unit with a capacity of 1,200 MWe [6]. International tenders for the design and construction of this new unit are underway, and commissioning is scheduled for the mid-2030s [6].

Plans to extend the Temelín nuclear power plant are also under consideration, although the process is less advanced than at Dukovany. The extension could include the construction of two new units with a total capacity of 2,000 to 2,400 MWe [7].

Advanced modular reactors

The Czech Republic is also interested in Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), which are small nuclear reactors with a simplified design. AMRs offer a number of advantages, such as lower construction costs, faster commissioning and greater adaptability to the needs of the power grid. The country is considering developing RMAs to complement its existing nuclear fleet and support the transition to a low-carbon economy [8].

Czechoslovak nuclear power plants

Countries producing nuclear power

Sources:

• [1] Eurostat (2021). Electricity generated, consumed and imported. Available at: https: //ec.europa.eu/eurostat/
• [2] ÚJV Řež (2021). Historical data. Available at: https: //www.ujv.cz/en/about-us/history
• [3] ČEZ Group (2021). Dukovany nuclear power plant. Available at: https: //www.cez.cz/en/power-plants-and-environment/nuclear-power-plants/dukovany-nuclear-power-plant
• [4] World Nuclear Association (2021). Nuclear Power in the Czech Republic. Available at: https: //www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/czech-republic.aspx
• [5] ČEZ Group (2021). Temelín nuclear power plant.