Projects include shift to longer fuel cycle and new control system
Czech utility ČEZ will invest 3.1 billion crowns (€156m, $182m) this year to continue the modernisation of its two-unit Temelín nuclear power station as part of a long-term programme aimed at extending its lifetime to at least 60 years.
The latest investment follows an investment of about €123m in 2025.
ČEZ said in a statement that a significant portion of the work will involve the transition to a longer fuel cycle, extending the operating period between refuelling from the current 12 to 14 months, with an eventual goal of 16 months.
It said operation between shutdowns will be half a year longer than the original design, a “very important step” in terms of operational efficiency.
Projects will also include the continued modernisation of the control system, supplied by Westinghouse, which will involve expanding the use of artificial intelligence.
Unit 1 has been using part of the new system since last year. In the first months of this year, the same modifications will take place on Unit 2. The project, which began three years ago, will be completed in 2029.
The transition to the new control system is gradual, taking place during shutdowns.
ČEZ said it wants to achieve average annual production from its nuclear fleet of 32 TWh in the long term, an increase of 2 TWh. The Czech Republic has six units in operation – two at Temelín and four at Dukovany.
“We achieved an annual production of 32 TWh for both nuclear power plants for the first time last year,” said Bohdan Zronek, member of the ČEZ board of directors and director of the company’s nuclear power division.
“This year it will be slightly lower, among other things because we are facing two shutdowns in Temelín instead of one last year. The key and priority are safety and efficiency of operation.”
ČEZ said last month that since the beginning of the 2025 Temelín had hit a high of 16.5 TWh of electricity, surpassing the previous record of 16.48 TWh in 2017. It said that with no planned outages 17 TWh could be reached by the end of the year.
Both Temelín units are Russia-designed VVER pressurised water reactor units. The 1,027-MW Temelín-1 began commercial operation in June 2002 and the 1,029-MW Temelín-2 in April 2003.
The Temelín nuclear power station in the Czech Republic. Courtesy ČEZ.
