On March 9, 2018 at 09:19 an important operation was performed at the innovative generation "3+" VVER-1200 – enabled reactor unit № 1 within Leningrad NPP-2 (Rosenergoatom Concern branch, part of the Electric Power Division of Rosatom) — the generator was synchronized to the grid and the unit began generating the first kilowatt hours of electricity.

"The new, super-powerful Leningrad unit began producing electricity and moved from the category of units under construction to the category of operating ones. My congratulations to the staff of the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, as well as to the designers, and commissioners with the birth of a new nuclear giant!", said Alexey Likhachev, General Director of Rosatom State Corporation, commenting on the significant event.

As explained by the chief engineer of the Leningrad NPP currently under construction, Alexander Belyaev, the thermal capacity of the VVER-1200 reactor was raised to 35% of the nominal value, and the K-1200-6.8/50 high-speed turbine was successfully put into rotation at 3,000 revolutions per minute. The new Leningrad NPP power unit was connected to the grid at a minimum level of electric power of 240 MW and successfully operated in this mode for 4 hours as prescribed by the program. During this time, it generated about 1 million kWh of electricity.

"Today we once again checked the reliability and safety of the technological systems of the launched unit. The operation was recognized as successful. There are no remarks on the operation of the equipment. Having released the first kilowatts into the network, we have completed the power start-up stage, and are ready to proceed to the next stage — pilot operation", commented the director of the Leningrad NPP Vladimir Pereguda.

For reference:
The power unit No. 1 of Leningrad NPP-2 with the VVER-1200 reactor is the second power unit of this type in the world, the launch of the first was held in 2016 at Novovoronezh NPP. We are reminding that the start-up operations at Unit 1 of Leningrad NPP-2 began on December 8, 2017, when the first fuel assemblies with fresh nuclear fuel were loaded into the reactor core (the "Physical launch" stage). On February 6, 2018, the reactor unit of Unit 1 was put into a minimally controlled power level, launching a series of tests. On February 15, 2018, the program for the physical launch of the VVER-1200 power unit No. 1 was fully completed.
The innovative, the most powerful power units with water-powered power reactors VVER-1200, built at Leningrad NPP-2, were developed by ATOMPROEKT JSC, an enterprise that performs complex design of nuclear facilities, scientific research and development of new generation nuclear power technologies. The power units designed by ATOMPROEKT belong to the newest generation of 3+. They use the most advanced achievements and developments that meet all the "post-Fukushima" requirements. The main feature of the VVER-1200 project is a unique combination of active and passive safety systems that make the station as stable as possible to external and internal influences.
Leningrad NPP is a branch of JSC "Concern Rosenergoatom". The station is located in the city of Sosnovy Bor, 40 km west of St. Petersburg on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. The Leningrad NPP is the first station in the country with reactors RBMK-1000 (uranium-graphite nuclear reactors of channel type on thermal neutrons). Four power units with an electric capacity of 1,000 MW each are operated at the NPP. There is a power unit No. 1 at the stage of "power start-up" of replacement capacities with the VVER-1200 reactor. Also, the construction of a power unit No. 2 of the same type with a reactor of the same type continues. The customer-developer of the project is JSC "Rosenergoatom Concern"; general designer — JSC ATOMPROEKT, general contractor — CONCERN TITAN-2 JSC.

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