ABB has been selected to modernise control and safety systems at Romania’s Cernavoda Unit 1 nuclear reactor as part of a wider refurbishment intended to extend the unit’s operating life by another 30 years.
The contract was awarded by EPC contractor Ansaldo Nucleare.
ABB will install a centralised automation platform incorporating cybersecurity features, replacing ageing equipment and strengthening the systems required for continued operation of the reactor.
Cernavoda Unit 1 entered commercial service in 1996 and is one of two CANDU-6 reactors operating at the site. Unit 2 entered service in 2007 and already uses ABB technology.
The two units normally provide approximately 18-20% of Romania’s electricity, making Cernavoda one of the country’s principal sources of baseload generation.
The control-system upgrade is one component of the larger Unit 1 refurbishment programme, which is designed to allow the reactor to operate substantially beyond its original design life.
Preserving nuclear generation is particularly important as Romania adds more variable renewable capacity. Wind and solar can expand the country’s low-carbon generation base, while Cernavoda provides a relatively stable block of output that is less exposed to weather variability.
Extending Unit 1’s life would therefore allow Romania to retain a substantial volume of existing low-emission generation rather than having to replace the capacity in the near term.
