The world's first floating nuclear power plant, Akademik Lomonosov, delivered its first 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to the isolated Chaun-Bilibino network in Russia's Far East autonomous region of Chukotka, Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom announced on Friday.
The floating plant, which was grid-connected on Dec 19, currently caters for 20% of the network's needs, Rosatom's statement said.
'It intends to fully cover the growing demand for electricity in Chukotka by becoming a reliable source of energy for both the city of Pevek and the whole region in general,' the statement read.
According to Vitaly Trutnev, director for the construction and operation of the floating nuclear power plants at the project company Rosenergoatom, the company's main objective for 2020 is to start commercial operations.
Trutnev added the floating plant would facilitate the growth of the gold, copper and other natural resources mining companies in Chukotka in the future and would be one of the key elements in the infrastructure of the Northern Sea Route.
The 144-meter length and 30-meter wide floating plant, equipped with two 35-megawatt KLT-40C reactor systems similar to those used on icebreakers, is capable of generating enough electricity for around 100,000 homes.
The floating plant docked at the the coastal gold-mining town of Pevek with a population of around 4,000 on Sep.14, 2019 and connected to the grid on Dec. 19, 2019.
By Firdevs Yuksel
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr