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modernisation, which began three years ago, will end in 2029. In the autumn, workers will transfer another part of the unit 1 equipment to the control of a new system. In addition to controlling circulation cooling
water pumps or cooling used fuel pools, the new system will also control most technological systems in the nuclear part of the power plant, such as main circulation pumps, primary circuit replenishment and discharge systems and a number of air handling systems. This modernisation has been underway since
2022 during which time technicians installed dozens of new servers, laid 80 km of mostly optical cables, made modifications to the control room and replaced the process units of the control boxes. The deployment was preceded by several months of testing. In total, the system controls thousands of devices and it can deal with tens of thousands of pieces of information a second.
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and
introduction of modern control methods is also underway. For two years, the plant has been using AI to reduce its own consumption. Thanks to AI, units save a 1 GWh of electricity every year. In 2026, the plant will further strengthen the role of AI. It is now deploying advanced AI models for working with documentation. “Data represents corporate gold,” said Temelín NPP Director Petr Měšťan.Měšťan. At both nuclear power plants, ČEZ continues
to use drones for inspections of difficult-to- access technology and the introduction of the most modern repair methods, such as laser cleaning and welding, advanced methods of applying metal material (coldspray) and modern pipe route renewal technologies. These procedures reduce intervention time and reduce the need for downtime. Meanwhile, at Dukovany, ČEZ also wants to
start a large-scale project to modernise engine rooms this year. A number of investment actions related to turbines, pumps and other key equipment aim to ensure the long-term operation of the power plant and potentially to further slightly increase its performance.
China Xuwei heat and power project launch First concrete has been poured for the nuclear island of unit 1 at Phase I of China’s Xuwei nuclear power project in in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, not far from the Tianwan PP. The plant will couple a 660 MWe high-temperature gas-cooled reactor HTGR) with two 1,208 MWe Hualong One pressurised water reactors (PWRs) to supply industrial heating and electricity. The project will also be equipped with a steam heat exchange station. China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) says the project is the “world’s fi rst dual-coupling demonstration project combining a third-generation nuclear PWR and a fourth-generation nuclear HTGR”. The project is designed primarily for industrial
heat supply while also providing electricity. It is the world’s first large-scale project coupling nuclear energy with the petrochemical industry into its main construction phase. At the plant demineralised water will be heated by the primary steam of the Hualong One units to produce saturated steam. The primary steam of the HTGR will then be used to heat the saturated steam for the second time. Xuwei Phase I was one of 11 reactor projects
approved by China’s State Council in August 2024. A CNY4.2bn ($594m) contract for the construction of the conventional islands of all three units was awarded in September 2025 year to a consortium comprising China Energy Engineering Jiangsu Electric Power Construction No 3 Company and China National Nuclear Huachen Construction Engineering Company. Jiangsu Electric Power Construction No 3 Company will build the three conventional island power plants, their ancillary facilities, and the construction and installation of some ‘balance of plant’ components. CNNC Suneng Nuclear Power Company, is owner of the Xuwei project and responsible for project investment, construction and operation management. Once completed the project will supply
32.5m tonnes of industrial steam annually, with a maximum power generation of more than 11.5 TWh. This is expected to reduce the use of standard coal by 7.26m tonnes.
round up
EQUIPMENT EDF SUBSIDIARY ARABELLE Solutions has been selected by Bechtel and Westinghouse Electric Company to supply three half-speed Arabelle steam turbine and generator sets for the AP1000 reactor project planned for Poland’s first NPP. The decision was the state-owned company behind the project at the Choczewo site in Pomerania.
REGULATION CHINA’S UPDATED ATOMIC laying a legal foundation for industrial development. The law prioritises safety and reliability while encouraging technical innovation in the nuclear and thermonuclear fields. A key aspect of the legislation is the standardisation of high safety designs such as Hualong One. It sets strict standards for the entire fuel cycle and encourages scientific research and technical development of fusion.
NUCLEAR FUEL US-BASED START-UP Standard Nuclear has received its first shipment of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) feedstock at of a US Department of Energy (DOE) initiative to establish a domestic fuel supply chain for advanced reactors. Standard both DOE authorisation and a shipment.
RADWASTE DEEP ISOLATION has completed Project SAVANT (Sequential Advancement of two-year research initiative funded by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E). to develop technologies for nuclear waste disposal in deep boreholes.
NUCLEAR GROUP
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www.neimagazine.com | January 2026| 9
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