Let us first understand "
Power Production Potential" of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
Power Production Potential at Kalpakkam
Fast Breeder Reactor (operational: 1983, 1992 unit 1, 1994 unit 2 become self sufficient)
Madras
Atomic
Power
Station, located at
Kalpakkam has two units, each capable of 220MW. That provides peak power of about
400MW. The reactors became operational in the year 1983.
Madras Atomic Power Station is presently working on testing a 500MW FBR Prototype test project which can be deployed between 2014-2016. This too is to address the major deficit in power production. This capacity will be close to 1GW if the test proves successful as a paired unit.
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
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Unit 1 - Feb 10, 2012 (src: FirstPost) |
In 1988, a project to build a second-generation Nuclear reactor with technology which was way beyond what Kalpakkam had by combining Russian Nuclear research and research from BHARC began. This is what has transpired into the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant.
During initial phases in 1988-89, the capacity of the entire Nuclear Power Plant after full installation in multiple stages at peak load was estimated at
9150 MW or
9.15 GW (That is
20 times the load that Kalpakkam's plant handles in comparison.) An agreement was also made to provide top notch VVER Nuclear Reactor design technology to India and operational expertise. This type of reactor had been first made operational in 1975. The servicability of the reactor was demonstrated when the first VVER operational reactor was shutdown for service and increase in life.