Rheinsberg Nuclear Power Plant

Infobox NPP
Picture = KKW Rheinsberg.jpg
Pic_des =
Country = Germany, formerly East Germany
Utility = Energiewerke Nord
Built = 1956
Start = October 11, 1966
End = June 1, 1990
Type = VVER
Reactor =
Reactor_MW =
S_Reactor = 1
S_Reactor_MW = 70
B_Reactor =
B_Reactor_MW =
E_Reactor =
E_Reactor_MW =
El_Prod =
for_year =
El_Prod_avg =
Net_Prod = 9000
WEBSITE =
as_of = November 13, 2006The Nuclear power station Rheinsberg followed the Rossendorfer research reactor to become the first power producing nuclear reactor in East Germany. It was built close to the city of Rheinsberg on the Stechlinsee. The power station was a part of the first generation of demonstration power reactors.

tart-up

It was decided to commence with the project in 1956, and construction began on January 1, 1960, first criticality followed on March 11, 1966 (the reactor was still not pressurized at that time though). Full start-up didn't take place until May 9 of that year and commercial power production didn't begin until October 11, 1966.

Achievement

The plant had a single pressurized water reactor of a Soviet design - the VVER-210. The gross power of the station was 70 MWe, but 8 MW was required to run plant systems, so the net output to the grid was 62 MWe. The gross power increased later to 75 ME and 80 MW as operating experience increased. The cooling water was taken from the Nehmitzsee and by a special discharge channel was put into the Stechlinsee. The plant accumulated 130,000 hours of operating time.

afety

Before the German reunification in 1990 the power station had been shut down due to safety problems. The plant was already scheduled to be disconnected from the grid in 1992 due to ordinarily reaching the end of its practical life.

Since 1995 the plant has been undergoing decommissioning activities. These operations are still headed up by the GmbH company that ran the station during its active life. Radioactive materials are moved to a temporary storage facility.

The area is being considered for either "greening" of the site or being turned into an industrial complex once the plant has been dismantled and is determined to be safe.

The worst event at the plant as classified as INES 2, where a tear in tubing in a cooling circuit was noticed quickly and was repaired.

ee also

;Nuclear plants built in the former East Germany
*Stendal Nuclear Power Plant
*Greifswald Nuclear Power Plant