Russian Nuclear Symphony

Nuclear energy is part of humanity's future. Russia is now continuing to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

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Mockup of a future city powered by nuclear energy, Tuesday (26/3/3024).

Like wild geese sweeping across the surface of a lake, three graceful and agile ballerinas danced on stage. Accompanied by the composition "Little Swan Dance" by Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1876), they captivated the admiration and applause of the audience, guests, and participants of Atomexpo 2024. The event was held from Monday (25/3/2024) to Tuesday (26/3/2024).

Similar admiration was also sparked by the mock-up of a future city displayed by Rosatom, a Russian state-owned company operating in the field of nuclear energy. Apart from buildings that have a futuristic feel, in the sky of the city, electric-powered flying cars are flying back and forth in the sky. Meanwhile, around the model, large electronic screens mounted on the walls display various new reactor models, including reactors whose byproduct is clean water.

Also read: Russia Continues to Spur the Development of Modular Nuclear Reactors

All energy to support the life of the future city—including medicine, industry, agriculture and clean water production—is supported by clean energy. The devices used to produce clean energy are nuclear power plants and wind.

Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev emphasized that no one is capable of stopping the development of nuclear technology. According to him, amidst the world's increasing energy needs, discussions and efforts to create a carbon-free world are a necessity.

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Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev delivers a speech at the opening of Atomexpo 2024 in Sochi, Russia, Monday (25/3/2024).

"Clean energy or renewable energy is our shared future. There are two key words related to this, namely future and together," stated Likhachev. "In this regard, I am talking about the development of the fourth generation of nuclear fusion technology and the diverse contributions of new technologies that support the nuclear energy sector. We can only achieve it through collaborative efforts by many countries. Where together, we can develop clean and efficient sources of energy," he added.

Safe

Unlike what many people imagine about nuclear energy – often colored by the dark history of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, or the Chernobyl nuclear incident – the development of nuclear technology and reactors is currently advancing rapidly. The Head of the Nuclear Reactor Technology Research Center at BRIN, Topan Setiadipura, stated that the latest nuclear reactor technology has been able to isolate and naturally cool damage within the reactor.

Also read: Building a High-Safety Small-Scale Nuclear Power Plant in Russia

Not only that, when visiting the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant located in Tver Oblast, Moscow - about 200 kilometers to the northwest - all turbines, including the reactor, are "encased in solid buildings". The walls of the building, which are about 70 meters high, are made of concrete with a thickness of 1.2 meters. Each door is designed like a ship's bulkhead door, where each side has thick rubber to prevent water leaks.

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Replicas of the latest generation nuclear reactors were displayed in the form of art at the ATOM Pavilion, a Russian nuclear technology museum, on Thursday (28/3/2024) in Moscow.

Ruslan Alyiev, ​​Chief Engineer of the Kalinin NPP, said that security is the number one priority. There's no haggling in that. It is not surprising that on every occasion, when meeting with guests, the conversation always begins with an explanation of security procedures. In fact, a sticker is attached to every mirror in the complex reminding you of safety standards and procedures. "There are five layers of security within the reactor area," said Ruslan.

Also read: Multiple Security Visits Russia's Floating Nuclear Plant

The safety layers include protective shells around the reactor core where nuclear fusion takes place. The shell functions to contain the energy generated by the nuclear reaction inside the reactor. All of the heat circulated within the primary socket, so there is no radiation dispersed. All these devices are located in highly protected containment units and are routinely tested and checked. The construction and nuclear reactor of Kalinin were designed and built by Rosatom themselves.

According to Ruslan, every historical record related to nuclear incidents, including Fukushima, is a serious concern. These records then become references for developing new technologies and standard procedures.

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The atmosphere of Moscow at night, Wednesday (27/3/2024). Nuclear energy supplies most of Russia's electricity.

Alexander Shenberger, senior plant shift supervisor—responsible for all technical units of the Kalinin NPP—said that Kalinin has four reactors. Initially, each reactor was designed to produce 1,000 megawatts of electricity. Currently, the capacity of each reactor has been increased to 1,070 MW.

"One of the reactors, the first reactor, is being shut down for inspection and maintenance. This is done every one and a half years and the duration of maintenance depends on the conditions found during inspection," said Shenberger.

Friendly and competitive

Currently, together with several other nuclear power plants in Russia, the Kalinin nuclear power plant also supplies most of Russia's electricity needs. Russian President Vladimir Putin has requested an increase in the country's nuclear power plant generation capacity up to 25% by 2045. In addition to meeting energy needs and boosting industrial performance, the capacity increase is also aimed at preventing environmental damage and achieving zero emissions targets.

Also read: EBT and Nuclear, Future Carbon Emission Reduction Solutions

Andrey Danilkin, Director of Environmental Affairs at the Kalinin NPP, said that the four reactors they own are capable of preventing 16 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions per year. "NPP is the cleanest electricity producer. "NPPs of any generation, including small modular reactors, can help minimize the release of carbon emissions into the atmosphere," said Danilkin.

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An art installation in the shape of a simulated atom nucleus was displayed in the main hall of the ATOM Pavilion, a museum showcasing the history of nuclear technology development in Russia, on Thursday (28/3/2024).

In addition, nuclear power plants (PLTN) are more compact and do not take up much space, so they can help prevent damage to the ecological system. In general, this condition can reduce the rate of climate change. On the other hand, the price per kilowatt-hour of electricity production from PLTN is also cheaper.

In Russia, while the production of electricity from wind power is priced at 1 ruble/kWh (approximately IDR 171.5), the production of electricity from nuclear power plants like Kalinin is priced at 0.56 rubles per kWh or around IDR 96 per kWh. This price is still cheaper compared to the price of electricity produced by geothermal power plants which reaches 0.97 rubles per kWh or equivalent to IDR 166.3 per kWh. If the latest nuclear technology is applied- using nuclear waste as fuel- it is predicted that the resulting electricity price will become even cheaper.

Also read: Raising Collective Awareness Towards a Global Energy Transition

It is not surprising that a number of countries, such as Turkey, Egypt, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, are partnering with Russia (Rosatom) to develop nuclear reactors in each country. Egypt is reportedly developing a nuclear power plant similar to the Kalinin nuclear power plant.

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Visitors interact with interactive rides at Atomexpo 2024, Tuesday (26/3/2024), in Sochi, Russia.

Responding to questions regarding the possibility of nuclear reactor development in Indonesia, Ruslan said that his party is ready if Indonesia is interested. "Regarding the most possible design to be applied, whether it is a floating or land-based model, only the Indonesian government can decide. Rosatom has highly reliable and safe construction. We will definitely conduct geological investigations and studies," Ruslan explained.

"Considering the external impacts, we will choose the safest and most reliable design for the area," Ruslan added.

The future of the world

The Director General of the World Nuclear Association, Sama Bilbao y Leon, said that nuclear technology is the future of the world. "Realizing a fairer standard of living for all people, economic growth, and population growth will contribute to a significant increase in global electricity demand. At the same time, we must achieve net zero carbon emissions," said Leon.

According to him, a carbon-free future requires decarbonization in all sectors, not just electricity production. "Nuclear technology is very suitable for decarbonizing difficult-to-reduce sectors, such as providing heat for industrial processes," Leon said further.

”At COP28, governments and industry set a target to double nuclear energy by 2050. This is a challenging target, but it is achievable if the global nuclear industry, governments, regulators and key stakeholders /a> others worked together to make it happen," said Leon.

Nuclear energy indeed leaves a painful trail in human civilization. However, thanks to technological advancements and capacity, humans can manage it safely. Like a symphony of "Swan Lake," the world is a composition of both bad and good experiences, joys and sorrows. However, to achieve progress, every human needs the courage to take new steps. Only with that can humans achieve what they dream of.