Ringhals nuclear power plant is located in Värobacka, Sweden, approximately 60 kilometers south of Gothenburg and comprises four units – one boiling water reactor and three pressurized water reactors
– By Stephen Heiser –
Siemens Energy has received an order to upgrade the six low-pressure turbines in Unit 1 of Ringhals nuclear power plant in Sweden. Customer is the Swedish utility Ringhals AB, a subsidiary of Vattenfall. The refits are scheduled for September 2011 and February 2012. The order volume is EUR83 million.
Ringhals nuclear power plant is located in Värobacka, Sweden, approximately 60 kilometers south of Gothenburg and comprises four units – one boiling water reactor and three pressurized water reactors. At 3560 MW it is the nuclear power plant with the highest combined installed capacity in Sweden and meets 20 percent of the country’s power demand. The Siemens scope of services for the BWR Unit 1 will encompass the supply and installation of six low-pressure turbines including extraction lines.
“By installing the new turbines we’ll be bringing Ringhals 1 in line with the latest state of the art and thus extending its service life and enhancing plant reliability and availability while at the same time improving the competitiveness of our customer. With this order we’re strengthening our position as the leading services provider in the Swedish power plant market,“ said Matthew Chinn, Managing Director Energy Sector UK, Sector Lead North & West Europe.
Ringhals is a major industry. The running of the facilities is an important part of the operation. However, a considerable amount of research and development is also conducted there. Many of its engineers are specialists, and among the foremost in their field in the world.
Ringhals AB has around 1,500 employees and an annual turnover of just over SEK 5 billion. Barsebäck Kraft AB is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ringhals AB, which in turn is owned by Vattenfall (70.4%) and E.ON (29.6%).
In the period up until 2012, SEK 13 billion is being invested in regeneration, improved safety, reduced environmental impact and increased output. This will enable the plant to produce more electricity and meet its own and the outside world’s stringent demands for safety, accessibility and environment. A further SEK 12 billion will be invested after 2012.