Czech Temelín modernizes diesel generators, investing CZK 17 million

The Temelín nuclear power plant has completed the modernization of the first of its eight diesel generators, which serve as backup power sources. This year, ČEZ plans to complete upgrades to half of Temelín’s eight diesel generators, with the rest to be modernized next year. The investment totals 17 million crowns. It will help ensure the South Bohemian nuclear power plant can operate for at least 60 years, Temelín spokesperson Marek Sviták told the Czech News Agency (ČTK) in a press release.

The modernization involves replacing components inside the control cabinets and installing new software. Work has been completed on one of the three diesel generators at Unit 1. “This year, while the plant is operating, we will upgrade one of the two diesel generators shared by both units, and we plan to modernize two more during the outage at Unit 2. The reason is to ensure the system can be maintained over the long term and that spare parts remain available,” said Temelín director Jan Kruml. According to ČEZ board member Bohdan Zronek, the energy company has invested more than 31 billion in modernizing Temelín since it began operating.

Diesel generators provide backup power for safety systems. Temelín has ten of them. Most are housed in seismically resistant buildings. Their resistance is equal to that of the building that protects the reactor. They can therefore withstand an earthquake at least 100 times stronger than any ever recorded in the area around the plant. They operate for a few hours a year, but the plant monitors their condition. ČEZ invests millions of crowns in their maintenance every year.