Slovenské elektrárne completed the power start-up of the third Mochovce unit with the last test in the active test phase - 144-hour trial run at full reactor power. The 6-day run demonstrated that the design parameters of the new unit were met and proved that it is capable of safe operation. It has delivered more than 1.2 million megawatt-hours since it was first connected to the grid on 31 January. This volume of electricity produced without carbon dioxide emissions is enough to cover the annual consumption of almost half a million Slovak households.
“I declare with pride and satisfaction that we have successfully completed the last trial run test at Mochovce 3. This nuclear unit is an important pillar of our efforts to ensure a stable and secure supply of electricity for Slovakia. I thank all our employees and partners for their tireless work and dedication that made this success possible. We are confident that Unit 3 will make a long-term contribution to Slovakia's energy mix and help us meet our climate change commitments. We aim to continue investing in future technologies to ensure a sustainable future for the people in Slovakia and Europe.”
Branislav Strýček, Chairman of the BoD and General Director of Slovenské elektrárne
The active testing phase began with the physical start-up of the new unit on 9 September 2022 by loading the first fuel assembly into the reactor. Over the course of thirteen months, the new unit had to undergo hundreds of different tests – first without a fission reaction in the reactor, and then progressively at different reactor power levels after reaching the minimum power. The aim was to test the unit in a variety of different, even extremely unlikely operating conditions, to detect and remove any obstacles that would prevent reliable and safe operation in the future. In January 2023, Mochovce Unit 3 was already in the power start-up phase and the reactor power was step-by-step increased.
“After more than twenty years, we have commissioned another nuclear unit in Slovakia. Its commissioning strengthened the collective of nuclear experts not only from Slovakia. This is an exceptional team, because even colleagues who experienced the commissioning of units in the former Czechoslovakia, have worked at this project together again. It is important that we pass on the baton to the next generation and maintain the knowledge necessary for the energy security of our country."
Juraj Krasňanský, Director of Completion and Commissioning of Mochovce 3 and 4
The complexity of the commissioning process of the new nuclear unit is also evidenced by the enormous numbers of installed plant components that had to be tested and harmonised together during the active testing phase. The third Unit is approximately the size of Bratislava Castle, and in its 1400 rooms there are almost 100 thousand pieces of equipment with 5,500 kilometres of cables and 175 kilometres of piping.
“With the completion of the commissioning of Unit 3, we have welcomed a new unit to our nuclear fleet. The plant successfully passed demanding tests, including disconnection from the power grid at full power. This means that Unit 3 will be able to cope with such challenging situations. Today, we are already preparing for its first planned overhaul and normal operational activities.“
Martin Mráz, director of Mochovce NPP
The new nuclear unit in Mochovce will cover almost 13% of total electricity consumption in Slovakia. In terms of electricity production, the country is becoming energy self-sufficient already this year.
Seven out of ten Slovaks support nuclear energy. Some 60% think that generating electricity at a nuclear power plant is safe. This is shown by the results of a poll by the ACRC agency for the Slovak Foreign Policy Association and Slovenské elektrárne, conducted at the turn of June and July 2022.
Approximately 70% of all electricity generated in Slovakia comes from Slovenské elektrárne. Thanks especially to its nuclear power plants, Slovakia’s largest producer supplies up to 95% of electricity without emitting carbon dioxide, one of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. The company was the only one in Slovakia and Eastern Europe to be included in the prestigious index Financial Times: Europe’s Climate Leader 2022 for reducing emissions.
In addition to nuclear power plants, the company also operates 31 hydroelectric, two coal and two photovoltaic power plants. In the end of 2022, its total capacity was 4143.8 megawatts.
The company has two shareholders. The majority shareholder is Slovak Power Holding B.V. (SPH), owning 66.0000000523% of the registered capital. A 50% stake in the registered capital of SPH is owned by EP Slovakia B.V. (a subsidiary of the EPH Group) and the remaining 50% is owned by Enel Produzione SpA (a subsidiary of the Enel Group).
Slovenské elektrárne’s minority shareholder, with a 33.9999999477% share in the registered capital, is the Slovak Republic, represented by the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.
