In recent years, it has happened on several occasions that the output of the Paks Nuclear Power Plant had to be reduced due to summer heat and high water temperatures in the Danube, but a complete block shutdown had never occurred before — the current measure was necessitated by an exceptionally low water level, expert Zsolt Hárfás told MTI on Wednesday.
The expert responded to an early afternoon announcement by MVM Paksi Atomerőmű Zrt. that the shutdown of Block 3 of the Paks nuclear power plant was being initiated due to the continuously falling water level of the Danube. On Monday, the output of Block 1 was reduced by 254 megawatts; on Tuesday, that of Block 3 was reduced by 237 megawatts; and on Wednesday it was announced that Block 3 would be shut down entirely.
Citing data from Mavir, the expert said that around half past six, Block 1 was operating at 247 megawatts, Block 2 at 488 megawatts, Block 3 at 0.5 megawatts, and Block 4 at 484 megawatts. According to the summary, 40 percent of the Paks plant’s total installed capacity of 2,026 megawatts is currently offline. The missing capacity is being replaced through imports and gas-fired power plants, he added.
Under current regulations, the temperature of the river water must not exceed the 30 degrees Celsius limit within a 500-metre stretch measured from the point where the heated cooling water is discharged back into the Danube. The current measure was necessitated by the extremely low water level, for environmental reasons, and to ensure the safe operation of the remaining blocks, he added.
Imports surge in the evening hours, approaching 4,000 megawatts, while gas power plant output steadily increases and solar power plant output steadily decreases — by around 6 p.m., only approximately 1,000 megawatts of capacity remained available for electricity generation, Zsolt Hárfás reported.
On 29 June, the grid operator recorded a system load of 7,488 megawatts during the evening hours, representing the highest summer electricity consumption ever measured.
According to Zsolt Hárfás, wind turbines barely generated any power in the heat, with only an average of around 20–25 MW available throughout the day out of the installed 325 MW.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Minister of Economy and Energy István Kapitány wrote that the shutdown was not an unexpected event but part of a carefully prepared professional plan. This is precisely the guarantee that every step will be predictable and that operational safety comes first at every step. To this end, the ministry is in continuous contact with the nuclear power plant, the Hungarian Electricity Transmission System Operator (MAVIR), and MVM.
According to his statement, in order to ensure Hungary’s energy supply, the shortfall in electricity will be offset by domestic power plants, renewable energy, and increased imports.
Thanks to the necessary measures, Hungary’s energy supply remains secure, the politician concluded his post.
Artificial intelligence was used for the translation of parts of the original Hungarian text.
