Discover the Top 10 Nuclear Power Plant in India. Read our expert reviews & insights on their performance, safety standards, and technological advancements. Stay informed about India’s nuclear energy sector.

Top 10 Nuclear Power Plant in India

 

Nuclear power is an important component of India’s energy supply. In the next ten years, the country plans to add another 5.4 GW to its existing nuclear power reactors. It is a clean, environmentally beneficial baseload power source that is available 24*7. It also has significant potential for ensuring the country’s long-term energy supplies sustainably.

There are currently 22 reactors in functioning with a combined capacity of 6780 MW, with one reactor, KAPP-3 (700 MW), linked to the network on January 10, 2021. In addition, there are eight reactors totalling 6000 MW under development (including a 500 MW PFBR being installed by BHAVINI).

The government has given administrative authority and economic assistance to construct 12 nuclear power reactors, including 10 indigenous 700 MW Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) in franchise mode and two units of Light Water Reactors (LWRs) in collaboration with the Russian Federation. The nuclear capacity is planned to reach 22480 MW by 2031 if all projects now under construction are completed and sanctioned. In addition, the government has given ‘In-Principle’ clearance for five new sites where nuclear power reactors could be built in the future.

Nuclear Advancements in India

After coal, gas, hydroelectric power, and wind energy, nuclear power is India’s fifth-largest source of power. In 2017, nuclear power generated 35 TWh and provided 3.22% of India’s electricity. Seven additional reactors with a total capacity of 4,300 MW are now under development.

India devised a strategy in October 2010 to achieve a nuclear energy production of 63 GW by 2032. Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, anti-nuclear protests have erupted at planned nuclear power plant locations. In Maharashtra, there have been mass demonstrations against the Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project. The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu and a prospective big nuclear power plant at Haripur were both denied license by the West Bengal government. A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has also been brought at the Supreme Court against the government’s civil nuclear ambitions.

India’s Three-stage Nuclear Program

In India, nuclear power has been hampered by poor capacity factors. The Indian fleet’s lifetime cumulative energy availability factor was 63.5% in 2017. Capacity considerations, on the other hand, have improved in recent years. In the years 2015-2017, the availability factor of Indian plants was 69.4%. The scarcity of reactor material is one of the key leading causes of poor capacity factors.

India has made treads in the field of thorium-based fuels, constructing, and creating a prototype for an atomic reactor that uses thorium and low-enriched uranium. The ITER effort is an essential aspect of India’s three-stage nuclear power program in the fusion energy domain.

The Apsara Research Reactor in Mumbai is Asia’s first nuclear reactor. India’s native uranium reserves are limited, and the government relies on uranium imports to operate its nuclear power plants. Russia has been a significant supplier of reactor material to India since the 1990s. On this page, you will find a list of active nuclear power plants in India for the year 2021.

1. Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, Tamil Nadu

The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is in Tamil Nadu, India. With 2,000MW completed and another 2,000MW under development, it is India’s highest-capacity nuclear facility. Construction for units three and four began in 2016 to have them functional by 2023.

In June 2017, NPCIL and the ASE Group of businesses signed a general outline agreement to construct the fifth and sixth units. Between 2025 and 2026, the units are planned to be put into service. When all six units of the power plant are operational, it will have an installed 6000MW.

Kudankulam is India’s first nuclear power station that uses pressurized water reactors (PWRs) instead of boiling water reactors (BHWRs) or pressurized heavy-water reactors (PHWR). Atomstroyexport delivered the PWRs, which are developed on Russian technology.

After protests sponsored by The People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy in the aftermath of Fukushima, development on the project was suspended in October 2011. In May 2013, the Indian Supreme Court invalidated the protestors’ public lawsuit against the facility.

Kudankulam nuclear power plant details

• The first phase of construction began in 2001, and the first two units were completed in 2013 and 2016, respectively.
• The ground-breaking ceremony for units three and four took place in February 2016, while the concrete pouring ceremony for the third unit took place in June 2017.
• Protests by neighbours and nuclear activists over safety concerns caused considerable delays in the project.
• The Kudankulam nuclear power station has a 60-year production life that may be extended by another 20 years. The plant’s first unit provides power at a lower cost of around Rs3.89 per unit.
• The home state of Tamil Nadu receives 50% (925MW) of the generated electricity, while the neighbouring states share 35% of the remaining electricity, including 442MW for Karnataka, 266MW for Kerala, and 67MW for Puducherry. The remaining 15% of generated electricity is unallocated and contributed to a central pool.
• KNPP reactor – Kudankulam, also known as Koodankulam, is India’s first nuclear power facility to employ imported PWR technology. In India, current nuclear power facilities employ pressurized heavy water reactor or boiling water reactor technologies.
• VVER-1000 type reactors, commonly known as water-water power reactors, are used by KNPP, an improved form of Russian-developed PWR nuclear technology.
• More than 1,500 reactor-years of operation have been completed with VVER technology.
• KNPP employs the AES-92, also known as the V-466 model, which is the most recent version of the third generation VVER-1000. This incorporates both active and passive safety features, such as a passive heat removal system (PHRS), hydrogen re-combiners, a core catcher, hydro accumulators, and a fast boron injection system (QBIS). This multi-layered characteristic protects both the plant and the environment.

Website: https://www.power-technology.com/projects/kudankulam-nuclear-power-plant/

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Address: Kudankulam, PO, Radhapuram, Tamil Nadu 627106

2. Tarapur Nuclear Reactor, Maharashtra

The Tarapur Atomic Power Station (TAPS) is in Maharashtra’s Thane District, near Boisar. The plant, which began as India’s first nuclear power project, was built using boiling water reactors (BWRs) by the Indian government. TAPS was made under a written agreement between India and the United States on May 8, 1964. The initiative enlisted the help of 120 Americans, and General Electric of the United States provided the BWRs. The Unit-1 and Unit-2 BWRs started their commercial operation on October 28, 1969, after construction began in October 1964.

The United States pledged to supply TAPS with enriched uranium for 30 years but following the successful nuclear blast at Pokhran in 1974, the supply was cut off. TAPS has received uranium fuel from France, China, and Russia since that time. IAEA safeguards are currently in place for imported fuel headed for this reactor.

TAPS had produced 62,696 million units (MUs) of electricity since it commenced industrial operations on February 28, 2003. The Unit-1 BWR produced 31,366 MUs, whereas Unit-2 produced 31,330 MUs. Even though both BWRs are over 30 years old, NPCIL Chairman V.K. Chaturvedi thinks they can run for another 30 years. This could be related to the 300 or so adjustments made to the BWRs as of October 2001.

Address: Boisar Tarapur Rd, Palghar Taluka, Akkarpatti, Maharashtra 401504

Website: https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/projects/tarapur-atomic-power-station-maharashtra/

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3. Rajasthan Atomic Power Plant, Rajasthan

The Rajasthan Atomic Power Station (RAPS), near Rawatbhata, Rajasthan, was the first plant in India to handle pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs). Unit-1 of RAPS is a 220MWe CANDU PHWR that was developed with Canadian cooperation. The development of Unit-2 was stalled after the Canadians discontinued their help following the nuclear test at Pokharan in 1974, although Unit-1 began business activities on December 16, 1973. Unit-2, on the other hand, became operational as a 220MWe PHWR in April 1981. Two more PHWRs started their business at RAPS in 2000.

Units 3 and 4 were built in-house and have a total capacity of 220MWe. Although leaks, breaches in the end-shield, and wind turbine failures have plagued Unit-1 over the years, the 29-year-old reactor now appears to be operating at a 100MWe capacity following recent renovations. Unit-2 is functioning at 200MWe after a seven-month all-inclusive refrigerant channel replacement. RAPS’s Unit-1 and Unit-2 PHWRs are protected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

RAPS had generated 41,159 million units since it commenced business activities on February 28, 2003. (MUs). There were 11,445 MUs in Unit-1, 21,940 MUs in Unit-2, 4,224 MUs in Unit-3, and 3,550 MUs in Unit-4. At RAPS, four more PHWRs are currently under development. Units 5 and 6 will have a capacity of 220MWe and would be ready for deployment in 2007, according to India’s Department of Atomic Energy. Units 7 and 8 are 500MWe PHWRs that are expected to be operational by 2011-2012.

Address: Rajasthan 323307

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4. Kaiga Atomic Power Plant, Karnataka

The Kaiga Generating Station (KGS) is a nuclear power facility in India’s Karnataka state, situated in the Karwar district. KGS, which already had three units operational, made the fourth unit critical in November 2010 and connected it to the grid in January 2011. Kaiga is now India’s third-largest nuclear power station, behind Tarapur (1,400MW) and Rawatbhata (1,180MW), respectively. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India manages KGS (NPCIL). The fourth reactor is the country’s 20th.

After the United States, France, Japan, Russia, and Korea, India has become the sixth country to join the world’s top nuclear club to complete the fourth unit. As a result, India’s installed nuclear production has grown from 4,560MW to 4,780MW. KGS has also performed a site survey to add 700MW Units 5 and 6, which are awaiting government permission.

Since it commenced business activities on February 28, 2003, the Kaiga Atomic Power Station had generated a total of 7,881 million units (MUs). Unit-1 contributed 3,489 MUs to the total, while Unit-2 contributed 4,392 MUs. The PHWRs are not protected by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Address: Kaiga Atomic Power Station Rd, Karwar, Karnataka 581400

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5. Madras Atomic Power Station, Tamil Nadu

The Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) was India’s first domestically constructed nuclear power plant, located about 30 kilometres from the city of Chennai. The power plant was built using experience gained from working with the CANDU reactors at Kota by the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Indian engineering firm Larsen & Toubro. The nuclear plant is divided into two sections. MAPS-1 was finished in 1981, but due to a lack of heavy water, the launch was delayed. The Madras Unit-1 turned critical in 1983 after receiving the required heavy water and began running at total capacity in January 1984. In 1985, MAPS-2 reached criticality, and in March 1986, it commenced entire power operations. Each of the two Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR) can generate 170MWe. This is less than the planned capacity estimate of 235MWe.

Following the finding of bits of zircaloy in a moderator pump, the predicted capacity of the two reactors was reduced. Significant cracking in the reactor cooling system was found to be the source of these fragments. Cracks and vibration issues have also affected the reactors’ coolant tubes. An accident at MAPS-2 on March 26, 1999, resulted in substantial volumes of heavy radioactive water. Seven personnel were exposed to high levels of radiation because of the mishap.

Address: Post Office Kalpakkam, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu 603102

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6. Narora Nuclear Reactor, Uttar Pradesh

The Narora Atomic Electricity Station (NAPS) serves India’s northern power system and is situated in the tiny town of Narora (Uttar Pradesh). The plant comprises two PHWRs, the first of which (Unit-1) went into commercial service on January 1, 1991. On July 1, 1992, Unit-2 was launched. The two steam rotor blades powering Unit-1 misfired on May 31, 1993, causing a significant fire. This, combined with issues with the PHWR’s cabling system, almost resulted in a nuclear meltdown. Even though NAPS was fully rehabilitated following the fire, Unit-2 was affected by a second incident in September 1999 when an air-locking interior door stopped working. The plant was quickly shut down, and Unit-2 was placed on standby for about a month.

Despite a minor tritium leakage around this period, the Bureau of Indian Standards examined the facility, and its ecological protection system was accredited by December 1999. The voluntary availability of NAPS to a World Association of Nuclear Operations (WANO) peer review board in early 2000 followed this accreditation. NAPS got the Golden Peacock Award from the World Environment Foundation for its achievements in environmental protection later that year, becoming Asia’s first ISO-14001 certified atomic power plant.

Address: Dist. Bulandshahar, Narora, Uttar Pradesh 203399

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7. Kakarapar Atomic Power Plant, Gujarat

The Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) is a nuclear power plant near Surat, Gujarat. KAPS runs two PHWRs, one of which (Unit-1) started industrial service on May 6, 1993. 2 years later, in September 1995, Unit-2 was released. The Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Limited (NPCIL), which administers 14 reactors, oversees the plants. Despite being shut down for 66 days in 1998 owing to a leak in its stator water supplies, the CANDU Owners Group named Unit-1 the highest performing PHWR of its category in the world in January 2003. (COG). From September 2001 to September 2002, the overall gross capacity factor (GCF) for PHWRs globally was 83.3%, whereas KAPS’ Unit-1 PHWR had a GCF of 98.4%. Unit-2 performed admirably as well, with a yearly capacity factor of 97.8 percent in 2001. The activities at KARP were not disrupted by a big earthquake near Bhuj in 2001, and both PHWRs proceeded to function smoothly.

The Kakrapar nuclear power plant is situated on the banks of the Tapti River, about 80 kilometres from Surat, India. The site is near Moticher in the Mandvi Tehsil. The power station is located near the city of Vyara, which is reachable via Surat and Dhule.

Address: Moti Cher, Gujarat 394360

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