Kurchatov Institute develops nuclear mini-stations for Arctic regions
The relevance of such installations is related to the sparse population of the Arctic, where no more than four million people live across vast territories, as well as the difficulty in creating reliable ground transportation infrastructure in permafrost areas.
11 October 2024The National Research Centre 'Kurchatov Institute' has developed small-scale nuclear power plants Elena-M for the Far North regions. The innovation was presented at the International Exhibition and Conference on Shipbuilding and Development of High-Tech Equipment for Arctic and Continental Shelf Development. This is reported by the Oil and Gas Information Agency.
Installing small-scale nuclear power plants near populated areas and industrial facilities will help solve several problems in Russia's Arctic regions. Thus, in addition to generating up to 1 MW of electricity, Elena-M generates up to 15 MW of heat. If the plant is supplemented with a bioreactor for growing plants, it will be possible to eliminate the need for northern importation of fruits and vegetables.
Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the Kurchatov Institute, proposed mass-producing nuclear mini-stations. This approach will help reduce their production costs.
Russia has created a new-generation solar battery that can store energy even in cloudy weather and low light conditions. The development is suitable for Arctic and Far North regions. The batteries are suitable for installation in both private homes and industrial facilities.
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