Five years ago, the world’s first-ever Floating Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP), Akademik Lomonosov, went into commercial operations in the Western Chukotka region of Russia.
Since then, it has become a reliable source of uninterrupted heat and electricity for the Chaun-Bilibino energy hub, which is isolated from Russia’s Unified Energy System.
Over its five years in operation, the FNPP has generated more than 1 billion kWh of electricity. Nowadays, the plant accounts for over 60% of total energy production in the Chaun-Bilibino hub.
Moreover, the FNPP continues to increase its output yearly, demonstrating its ability to meet the region’s energy demands.
The FNPP is powered by two KLT-40S reactor units — similar to those used in nuclear icebreakers. The FNPP provides 70 MW of electricity and 50 Gcal/h of heat.
The onshore infrastructure distributes this energy to end users. Unlike traditional land-based nuclear power plants, which partially refuel every 12 to 18 months, the FNPP undergoes a full core refueling every few years, replacing all spent fuel at once.
