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A Czech firm has successfully secured a public tender for the supply of new turbine generator sets at the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant, a project valued at several billion Czech koruna. The new generators, which weigh over 2,000 tons and measure a total of 65 meters in length, will replace the aging units that have reached the end of their operational lifespan. Currently, these generators contribute 1,086 megawatts of electricity to the grid, and the upgrades are anticipated to further enhance output while aligning with the plant's lifetime extension plans.

Daniel Bene, Chairman and CEO of the EZ Group, highlighted the impressive increase in output since the commissioning of the nuclear units, noting a total gain of 500 megawatts equivalent to the output of a significant coal-fired power plant, but without the associated emissions or land use concerns. This replacement initiative underscores the ongoing commitment to both sustainability and energy efficiency.

The original turbine generators were supplied by the now-defunct Koda Plze, part of Doosan Koda Power, which emphasizes the importance of their replacement in light of the Czech Republic's broader energy strategy. Doosan Koda Power, headquartered in Plzeň and part of the South Korean conglomerate Doosan Enerbility, expressed confidence in their bid, which outperformed other global manufacturers, affirming their leadership in the power plant equipment sector.

Currently, the Dukovany site operates four VVER 440 units, while two VVER 1000 units at Temelín, operational since 2000 and 2002, are set to function for 60 years. Nuclear energy accounts for 34% of the Czech Republic's electricity production, and alongside upgrades to existing infrastructure, the nation is exploring plans for new gigawatt units, as well as up to 3 gigawatts of small modular reactor capacity, to further bolster its energy landscape.