Operations in Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant
Loviisa nuclear power plant is a condensate power plant that produces electricity, and its power plant units are pressurised water plants. Electricity generation at the plant is based on the utilisation of thermal energy generated by a controlled fission chain reaction.
Loviisa NPP in 2023
8.09
Loviisa NPP production (TWh)
10%
Share of Finland's electricity production
550
The power plant continuously employs
Finland's first nuclear power plant
| Loviisa 1 | Loviisa 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Construction began | 1.5.1971 | 1.8.1972 |
| Commissioned | 8.2.1977 | 4.11.1980 |
| Heat capacity | 1,500 MW | 1,500 MW |
| Power capacity (net) | 507 MW | 507 MW |
| Load factor (2023) | 89.79% | 92.32% |
| Power generation (2023) | 3,99 TWh | 4.10 TWh |
Primary circuit
The Loviisa power plant units' reactor coolant pumps circulate the 300-degree water into the steam generators and back to the reactor. The Loviisa power plant units contain a total of six of these circuits working in parallel. Together they form the primary circuit of the reactor.
Secondary circuit
In the steam generators, the water of the primary circuit heats the water of the separate secondary circuit. The water starts to boil because the pressure in the secondary circuit is much lower than in the primary circuit. The generated steam is led to the turbines. The turbine rotates the generator, which converts the kinetic energy into electricity.
Cooling water system
After the turbine, the low-pressure steam is led to the condensers. There the steam is condensed with cold seawater back into the water, which is then pumped through the preheaters into the steam generators. When both power plant units are operational, it takes on average about 40 cubic metres of seawater per second to cool the steam. The water used in the cooling is pumped back into the sea. It is 10 degrees warmer but its consistency is unchanged. The rest is transmitted to the cooling water in the condensers and from there to the sea, just like in other condensing power plants generating electricity.
Waste management
Loviisa power plant aims to prevent waste and increase the share of recyclable waste
Read more
Radiation safety
Normal operation of the Loviisa nuclear power plant causes very low radiation doses to the environment
Learn more
Read more