Floating NPP for Arctic

Rosenergoatom, the Russian state concern for electrical and heat energy production in nuclear power plants, is promoting floating nuclear power plants (NPP) for energy supply for Arctic oil- and gas drilling platforms. Instead of using gas to produce electricity for the platform, one floating NPP can ensure needed power supply.

A promotion brochure from Rosenergoatom details the plans to use the floating NPPs for offshore oil- and gas installations in the remote Arctic seas. The general concept of the plan is based on the same technology as the floating nuclear power plant currently under construction at the Sevmash plant in Severodvinsk in the Arkhangelsk region. The plant will be built as a barge where the core of the nuclear power plant is its KLT-40 reactor. This kind of reactors is similar to the ones onboard Russia???s civilian fleet of nuclear powered icebreakers operated by the Murmansk Shipping Company.

The company claims that one floating NPP helps to save 150 mln. cub. m of gas per year. The floating NPP can in addition to provide electricity to the platform itself, also ensure power supply to gas compressor units used for gas transmission systems, either from offshore installations or from coastal transmission installations. A standard floating NPP will be equipped with two reactors, providing 77 MW.

Rosenergoatom is also currently working towards expanding the line of floating NPPs through development of small and medium sized reactors so that in the near future they can provide a series of floating NPPs ranging from 1,5 MW to 300 MW of electric power. The different sizes will allow addressing much more diverse tasks of such regional and self supporting energy supplies. Rosenergoatom underlines that the package of organizational and engineering solutions applied in the design ensure compliance with all Russian and international standards of nuclear and radiation safety and meet the conditions of non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

The floating nuclear power plants life cycle is reported to be 38 years. Earlier this year it was reported that the Murmansk Shipping Company will convert the nuclear-powered container carrier ???Sevmorput???into a drilling vessel for the oil industry. The vessel will be ready for drilling operations in the Arctic within 18 months.