The third block of the nuclear power plant in Mochovce. (source: Sme)
Slovakia has rewritten its historical data in electricity production.
Last year, five nuclear units of dominant electricity producer Slovenské Elektrárne broke the country’s record in production of electricity from nuclear power. Three units in Mochovce, one of which was finally launched last year, and two in Jaslovské Bohunice, produced a total of 18.344 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2023. They supplied almost 16.967 TWh of electricity to the grid. This is more than in 2006, when both two units of the older Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant were still in operation, Slovenské Elektrárne writes on its website.
“The year-on-year growth in production of electricity from nuclear power is attributable to the third unit at Mochovce,” wrote Slovenské Elektrárne.
In 2006, before two units of the V1 nuclear power plant in Jaslovské Bohunice were closed down, SE generated 18.012 TWh of electricity from nuclear power, less by some 0.332 TWh compared to the 2023's production.
Nuclear power plants in Slovakia produced 15.920 and delivered 14.729 TWh of electricity to the grid in 2023.
In total, the semi-state Slovenské Elektrárne produced 21.659 TWh of electricity and after deducting its own consumption supplied 19.570 TWh to the grid in 2023. One year earlier it was 18.888 TWh and 17.039 TWh, respectively.
The third Mochovce unit
The third unit of the Mochovce nuclear plant was gradually phased in throughout 2023. Its power commissioning was completed on October 17, 2023.
“After more than 20 years, we have commissioned another nuclear unit in Slovakia,” said Juraj Krasňanský, director of completion and commissioning of Mochovce 3 and 4, as cited in the press release.
The third unit is approximately the size of Bratislava Castle, and in its 1,400 rooms there are almost 100,000 pieces of equipment with 5,500 kilometres of cables and 175 kilometres of piping.
SE plans to complete the fourth Mochovce unit in 2025.
Other sources
Hydropower plants belonging to SE supplied almost 1.9 TWh and thermal power plants in Nováky, whose operation ceased in 2023, and Vojany, supplied 708 GWh to the grid last year.
SE generates approximately 72 percent of all electricity generated in Slovakia. In 2022, electricity consumption in Slovakia was slightly above 28 TWh.
Apart from the nuclear power plants, SE operates hydropower plants, one coal-fired plant and two photovoltaic power plants.
