On Saturday, 4 February 2023 at 5:35 PM Slovenské elektrárne, a.s., successfully connected to the grid also the second turbine generator of Mochovce 3 nuclear power plant and are continuing with further tests at the power level of 20 %. The first turbine was connected to the grid on Tuesday, 31 January 2023 at 10:57 PM.
"By connecting the turbine generators to the electricity grid of the Slovak Republic, we have for the first time realistically fulfilled the mission of a nuclear power plant – to maintain the fission chain reaction safely and reliably, as well as to supply real electricity to the consumers. Of course, we still have dozens of tests to do before Unit 3 starts producing at 100 %."
– Marek Podolec,
Operation Manager of Mochovce 3 and 4 Nuclear Power Plant
Unit 3 has already supplied two gigawatt-hours of electricity to the grid since it was first synchronised, representing the annual consumption of 800 average households. The process of gradual increase of Unit 3 output and the supply of electricity to the grid helps fulfil the agreement with the Government, in which Slovenské elektrárne committed to supply cheap electricity to households at the price of EUR 61.2077 per megawatt-hour, which represents an unprecedentedly low electricity price for households in the EU.
"The progress of the tests so far in the power start-up phase shows readiness of the technology, start-up personnel as well as operating personnel. Testing is proceeding according to the schedule."
– Juraj Krasňanský
Director of Completion and Commissioning of Mochovce 3 and 4 Nuclear Power Plant
Once all the tests of this stage are evaluated, the unit will transfer to the power level of 35 % of the reactor power and will be gradually increased up to 100%, with short-term planned shutdowns according to the commissioning schedule of the new unit. Full operation of Unit 3 and achievement of project parameters will be confirmed by successful completion of the 144-hour trial run phase at full 471 megawatt power.
The new nuclear unit in Mochovce will have the installed capacity of 471 megawatts at start-up, which will cover approximately 13% of Slovakia's total electricity consumption. In terms of electricity production, Slovakia will thus become energy self-sufficient already in 2023.
The lifetime of the new unit is planned to be 60 years at least.
Seven out of ten Slovaks support nuclear energy. Up to 60% think it is safe to generate electricity in a nuclear power plant. This is shown by the results of an ACRC public opinion poll conducted for the Slovak Society for Foreign Policy (SFPA) and Slovenské elektrárne in June-July 2022.
Approximately 70% of all electricity generated in Slovakia comes from Slovenské elektrárne. Thanks to nuclear power plants in particular, Slovakia's largest producer supplies almost 95% of its electricity without emitting carbon dioxide, which is considered to be one of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming. The company is the only one in Slovakia and Eastern Europe to be included in the prestigious Financial Times' Europe's Climate Leader 2022 index for reducing emissions.
In addition to nuclear power plants, the company operates 31 hydro, two thermal and two photovoltaic power plants. Their total capacity is 4143.8 megawatts.
The company has two shareholders. The majority shareholder is Slovak Power Holding B.V. (SPH) with 66.0000000523 % stake in the share capital. In SPH, EP Slovakia B.V. (a subsidiary of the EPH Group) holds 50 % of the share capital and the remaining 50 % belongs to Enel Produzione S.p.A (a subsidiary of the Enel Group).
The minority shareholder of Slovenske elektrárne, with a 33,9999999477 % share in the share capital, is the Slovak Republic, on behalf of which acts the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.
