Leningrad NPP: Unit 1 With VVER-1200 Connected To The National Grid

On the 9 of March 2018, at 09:19, the most important operation was completed, i.e. Leningrad NPP Unit 1’s generator was synchronized with the grid and the unit started delivering first kilowatt-hours to the United Energy System of Russia. Innovative Unit 1 with a Generation III+ reactor VVER-1200 is installed at Leningrad Phase II (a branch of Rosenergoatom which is part of the Power Division of ROSATOM).

“The Leningrad new superpower unit has started generating first electricity and shifted from the being constructed rank to the operating rank. I would like to greet the team of Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant as well as designers, builders, installers and adjusters with the birth of a new atomic giant!” Director General of ROSATOM Alexei Likhachev said, commenting on the remarkable event.

 Chief Engineer of Leningrad NPP under Construction Aleksandr Belyaev explained that thermal power of VVER-1200 reactor had been brought up to 35% of rated power and fast-speed turbine K-1200-6,8/50 had successfully achieved 3,000 revolutions per minute. These were done to connect the generator to the grid. The new unit of Leningrad NPP was connected to the grid at the minimum controlled power of 240 MW and has to operate for 4 hours at this level as prescribed by the program. During this time period it will produce some 1 million kWh of electricity.

“Today, we once again have tested reliability and safety of process systems functioning at the start-up power unit. The operation has acknowledged being successful. There are no issues with equipment. Having released first kilowatts to the grid, we have completed the first power program and are ready to start the next phase that is the pilot commercial operation,” Leningrad Plant Manager Vladimir Pereguda commented on the results of the operation.