REVISTA DYNA ENERGÍA

It is a pressurized water fission reactor with a generating capacity of approximately 1,600 MW from a thermal power of 4,500 MW. Currently only 5 units are in some stage of construction.

Designed by the European nuclear technology consortium AREVA (originally FRAMATOME, French) and SIEMENS (Konvoi units, German), it proposed greater generating efficiency, 91% capacity utilization, 17% lower fuel consumption, greater environmental protection, high safety against possible major accidents and an operating life of 60 years. Even the Project has been revised following the Fukushima disaster.

The first units to start construction were in Finland (Olkiluoto 3) in 2005 and in China (Taishan 1 and 2) in 2009 and 2010 respectively. In 2008, France also began work on the Flamanville 3 unit in the town of Flamanville. Subsequently, Great Britain has approved the installation of two units at Hinkley Point (Somerset - England) where two other former smaller units are already in the process of closure.

The heavy delays in the progress of the work have been the main feature of the projects, as well as the significant financial difficulties which, in the case of Olkiluoto, have increased due to the penalties imposed on the builders. The unit closest to commissioning, Olkiluototo, plans to start testing at the end of 2018 to achieve continued operation during 2019.

The Chinese units built by the China General Nuclear Power Group have been running more regularly and the first one is already in trials, with the prospect of going into commercial production in 2018 and the second one in 2019. The Flamanville unit will also be operational in 2019 or 2020.

It should be noted that the construction of the British Hinkley Point units is the responsibility of the consortium formed by EDF (Electricité de France) and the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN), since EDF acquired British Energy in 2009. There are no more units available for hire, except perhaps in India.