New Indian nuclear unit Rajasthan 7 reaches full power

New nuclear construction in India has reached another milestone. The seventh unit at Rajasthan power plant reached full power for the first time after ten months of operation. The new unit, equipped with an Indian pressurized heavy water reactor, has an installed capacity of 700 MW. India is currently planning and building 13 more similar nuclear units. By 2047, the Indian government aims to reach 100 GW of installed nuclear capacity.

India’s NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited ) announced that its new Rajasthan 7 nuclear unit reached full power for the first time on 10 February. The new unit is equipped with an IPHWR-700 (Indian Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor), with an installed capacity of 700 MW (gross) and 630 MW (net). The company connected the new unit to the grid last year in March and commissioned it a month later. Since then, its output has been gradually increased.

“This milestone is a testament to engineering excellence, strong teamwork and institutional synergy, and strengthens NPCIL’s role in advancing India’s clean, reliable and self-reliant energy future,” NPCIL said on LinkedIn.

The company is also working to commission the sister unit, Rajasthan 8, equipped with an identical reactor. NPCIL expects to bring it online later this year, following a series of tests. India began construction of the two units at Rajasthan power plant in 2011.

100 GW of nuclear capacity in 20 years

Rajasthan 7 is the third IPHWR-700 unit to enter operation, out of 16 planned and under construction. India commissioned the first two units at Kakrapar power plant (units 3 and 4). Overall, India is targeting at least 100 GW of installed nuclear capacity by 2047. NPCIL says that each IPHWR-700 unit will generate around 5.2 TWh of electricity per year, making it an important part of the government’s target.

“This achievement confirms the robustness of our 700 MW PHWR design, our capabilities and those of the Indian nuclear industry,” NPCIL added in a press release.

NPCIL currently operates a fleet of 24 reactors with a total installed capacity of just under 9 GW. More than 13 GW of additional capacity is in various stages of planning and construction.