"As Bulgaria moves forward with plans to add new nuclear capacity at its Kozloduy site, the decision to use AP1000 reactors raises important questions about strategy, safety, and long-term energy planning. With global deployment of AP1000 units accelerating and Bulgaria actively advancing permitting steps, the choice of this technology offers a promising path toward stability, modernization, and regional leadership. 1. Why AP1000? An overview of the technology"
"The AP1000 is a Generation III+ pressurized water reactor developed by Westinghouse that emphasizes advanced safety, modular construction, and efficient operations. One of its defining features is its passive safety system, designed to maintain safety functions for up to 72 hours without external intervention or electric power - leveraging natural circulation and gravity-fed cooling. Modular construction is another key advantage: components can be prefabricated off-site and assembled, reducing on-site labor demands and potentially improving control over costs and schedule."
"Bulgaria's energy goals centre on ensuring baseload stability, decarbonizing generation, and supporting integration of renewables. AP1000 reactors, with their ability to deliver high-capacity power with low operational emissions, fit well into a strategy that blends nuclear, renewables, and flexible systems. As older coal units and aging thermal plants retire, nuclear becomes a backbone for the grid - especially when renewables underperform. The AP1000's reliability helps maintain stability during peak demand or low renewable output periods."
AP1000 reactors are Generation III+ pressurized water reactors with passive safety systems that can maintain core and containment cooling for up to 72 hours without external power or operator action. Modular off-site fabrication reduces on-site labor and can shorten construction schedules while leveraging established global deployments to capture learning curves. AP1000 units provide high-capacity, low-operational-emission baseload power that supports grid stability and complements variable renewables by supplying firm generation during peak demand or low renewable output. Selecting AP1000 technology aligns with objectives to modernize generation assets, replace retiring coal and thermal capacity, and advance decarbonization and energy security.
Read at London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com
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