Loviisa power plant turbine modernisation to increase electricity output and improve safety

Modernisation strengthens availability and production capacity

The upgrades will ensure the reliable operation of the turbines throughout the remainder of the plant’s lifetime. Some existing components are approaching the end of their technical life cycle, making maintenance and spare-part availability increasingly challenging in the coming years. At the same time, changes in the operating environment and geopolitical developments have increased uncertainty regarding support and spare-part availability from some original equipment and system suppliers. The modernisation will ensure that the power plant can safely and reliably utilise modern technologies with long-term support well into the future.

The upgrades will also increase the production of stable fossil-free electricity at Loviisa. The turbine island modernisation will raise the plant’s electrical output by approximately 38 megawatts by 2028. As a result of the investment, the plant’s lifetime electricity generation is expected to increase by around 7 terawatt-hours. In total, the Loviisa power plant is expected to generate up to 177 terawatt-hours of stable electricity during its current operating licence period.

Fortum has extensive nuclear expertise

The turbine island upgrade is one of the most significant modernisation projects undertaken at the Loviisa power plant. Its successful implementation requires strong nuclear expertise, long-term planning and seamless collaboration between specialists from multiple disciplines. The project is being led by Fortum’s own experts in cooperation with selected partners.

Fortum’s nearly 50 years of experience in the long-term maintenance and development of nuclear power plants enables the safe and efficient execution of large-scale projects. The upgrades will be integrated into annual outages, minimising impacts on production while ensuring efficient use of resources.

Turbine modernisation consist of three projects

The modernisation of the low-pressure turbines is the largest individual project within the programme. The project includes the replacement of the casings and internal components of all eight low-pressure turbines at the Loviisa power plant. The upgrade aims to significantly improve the efficiency of the turbine, enabling increased electricity generation without increasing the reactor’s thermal power. The modernisation is limited to the turbine island and will have no impact on reactor operations or nuclear safety. The project will be delivered by the Czech company Doosan Škoda Power.

The turbine automation project involves the renewal of turbine protection and control systems for both plant units, as well as related actuators. Turbine automation plays a crucial role in the safe, reliable and efficient operation of the turbine plant by controlling and monitoring turbine performance under all operating conditions. The upgrade will bring the systems in line with current technical requirements, improving reliability, maintainability and spare-part availability. In addition to turbine automation, generator auxiliary systems will be modernised, enhancing real-time monitoring and control capabilities from the main control room. The turbine automation systems will be supplied by Finnish technology company Valmet.

The replacement of the main seawater pumps will modernise equipment that is essential for the turbine plant’s cooling process. The main seawater pumps circulate seawater to the condensers, where steam exiting the turbines is cooled back into water and returned to the power plant process. Each plant unit is equipped with four main seawater pumps. The existing pumps and motors are approaching the end of their technical life cycle and will therefore be replaced. The project supplier is the Austrian company Andritz.

Investments related to extending the operating lifetime of the Loviisa power plant are estimated to reach approximately EUR 1 billion by 2050. Last year, Fortum invested around EUR 70 million in upgrades and maintenance at the Loviisa power plant.