Nuclear Power Plant Temelin
Nuclear Power Plant Temelin shall operate two production units, each having 981 MWe power output. Following its connection to the grid, nuclear power plants shall hold a share of 50 %, approximately, in the CEZ total electricity production.
A construction project for NPP Temelin spent fuel repository shall start after a commencement of NPP Unit 2 operation.
Monitoring and evaluation of NPP Temelin (ETE) environmental impacts
NPP Temelin performs monitoring of its environmental impacts, in compliance with requirements stipulated specifically in legal standards and regulations. For such purposes, NPP Temelin employs ETE Chemistry Laboratories, as well as Ambient Radiation Control Laboratory, situated in the town of Ceske Budejovice (LRKO). Both facilities are provided with adequate technology and permissions to perform the relevant tasks.
ETE Chemistry Laboratories provide to the nuclear power plant the following:
- chemistry and radiochemistry analyses for particular technologies (chemistry mode control)
- chemistry analyses of surface water at selected cross-sections of Vltava River
- chemistry and radiochemistry analyses of waste water released from the power plant
- chemistry and radiochemistry analyses of subsoil water
Results of the analyses provide background information for a fulfillment of conditions stipulated in permits and decisions issued by relevant state administration and supervision authorities, as well as for evaluations of NPP Temelin environmental impacts.
LRKO Laboratories in Ceské Budejovice
Since 1991, already, the contents of radionuclides in particular environmental components are evaluated and the level of natural background dose rates in NPP Temelin vicinity is monitored. All the monitoring is performed by LRKO Laboratories, according to guidelines issued by the state expert institution, i.e., the National Radiation Protection Institute (SURO). The monitoring itself is performed according to a monitoring program, approved by State Office for Nuclear Safety (SUJB), and the power plant submits measurement results to the state supervision and administration authorities.
LRKO monitors the following components:
- atmosphere - quality monitoring (aerosols, pollutants, precipitation)
- surface water, subsoil water, potable water
- sediments at surface water sample off-take points
- soil
- food - milk, fish meat
- agriculture and forest products
Since 1980, when the NPP Temelin construction decision was adopted, a number of studies have been prepared, dealing with the construction project impacts on various environmental components. The Prague VUV T.G.M. institution is the most important provider of such studies, dealing with issues of both surface and subsoil water quality in the NPP Temelin vicinity since 1987, already, under a framework of a national project fulfillment.
In 1999, on a basis of recommendations issued by national expert and scientific centers, processed and prepared by INVEST project Brno Company, NPP Temelin announced a commitment to monitor its operation impacts on the environment, in excess to the scope of the applicable legislation.
These are, in particular, selected fields of both monitoring and evaluation of the environmental water component, the status of agriculture and forestry soil, bio-monitoring of atmospheric deposits of radionuclides, as well as a health status of population living within the reach of NPP Temelin.
All such tasks are summarized under a framework of "Monitoring & Evaluation of NPP Temelin Environmental Impacts Program", with its results available to the public at the power plant information centre.
The summary results of NPP Temelin environmental impacts monitoring and evaluation until the year 2000 represent a reference (initial, zero) status, as of prior to a commencement of NPP Temelin trial operation and shall provide a basis for a comparison with data collected in the following periods, as well as for an assessment of the actual environmental impacts of NPP Temelin.
Expert missions
For almost ten years Temelín Nuclear Power Plant has been under a strict supervision of the International Agency for Atomic Energy at UNO.