– We are well aware of in the Polish research ecosystem, which is very active in Europe. Our goal is to use this valuable knowledge base. We believe that Poland will play a key role in the future of research and development as well as innovation in the nuclear sectorbut also generally in the energy sector – said Martinez Sancho. At the same time, she assured that Westinghouse was actively involved in cooperation with Polish research and development organizations.
As one of the areas of Westinghouse, it indicates research on materials used in reactors and new materials needed in future generations of reactors. – Poland has enormous potential in this area, if only because of “Maria” research reactor. This reactor is necessary for radiation tests, enabling us to observe the behavior of materials in radiation conditions. For me as a person working for many years in the nuclear industry, this is extremely interesting – emphasized Martinez Sancho.
Hot chambers
As she pointed out, the Polish National Center for Nuclear Research has so -called Hot chambers, i.e. shielded laboratories adapted to work with highly radioactive materials. There are very few objects in Europe and the United States with such chambers.
– When Poles start operating AP1000 reactors, they will need many regular controls. Having hot chambers and laboratories is a great solution, because it enables a much more deepened analysis of the behavior of some materials. Having laboratories in this type of infrastructure in the country is a huge advantage, because it is not a standard in the world – said Westinghouse vice president.
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She added that very interesting works are also carried out in Poland to determine the optimal technology that allows you to replace old nuclear coal power plants, and Several Polish institutions are leaders in the world in the field of these research under the Desire program. The purpose of this project is to develop a plan for decarbonization of the Polish energy sector by modernizing using nuclear reactors of generation III/III+ and IV. As part of Desire, they work, among others Silesian University of Technology, Energoprojekt-Katowice, Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology.
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– We carefully monitor their work and willingly cooperate as our infrastructure develops in Poland. We see the potential for use all over the world – said Martinez Sancho.
Replacing the coal boiler with nuclear components
The concept assumes Replacement of the carbon boiler with nuclear components while maintaining a turbine and generator. – the possibility of using existing power plants and access to existing infrastructure and conventional elements of network blocks would make it The implementation of nuclear technologies could be significantly accelerated. Research and development projects in this area are aimed at proving the potential, which in my opinion is very large-explained Vice President Westinghouse. At the same time, she reserved that further research was necessary, e.g. to estimate the profitability of the entire concept.
The investor and the future operator of the first Polish nuclear power plant in the Lubiatowo-Kopalino location in Pomerania will be 100 % belonging. to your company. Three reactors in AP1000 Westinghouse technology are to be erected at the power plant. According to the current schedule, pouring so -called The first nuclear concrete for the first reactor is to take place in 2028. The beginning of commercial operation of the first block is planned for 2036.
