After the terrible events that took place in Japan, nuclear power plants began to attract a lot of world attention. The controversy over the safety of nuclear power plants for the environment and human life continues today. But such power plants require just a meager amount of fuel, which is their undoubted advantage over other types of similar structures.
There are more than 400 nuclear power plants in the world, and those that will be discussed below are the most powerful of them.
For comparison: the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power plant had a capacity of 4,000 MW.
10. Hamaoka NPP (Japan) - 3617 MW
Our rating is opened by a station located on the Japanese island of Honshu. After the disaster at Fukushima, the Japanese approached the construction of a new nuclear power plant with a high level of professionalism and extreme caution: now only three reactors out of five are in operation. Two reactors were shut down due to technical work to improve the safety and protection system from natural disasters.
9. Balakovo NPP (Russia) - 4000 MW
Balakovskaya is rightfully considered the largest nuclear power plant in Russia and the most powerful power plant of its kind. It was with her that all studies of nuclear fuel in our country began. All the latest developments were tested here, and only after that they received permission for further use at other Russian and foreign nuclear power plants. Balakovo nuclear power plant generates a fifth of all nuclear power plants in Russia.
8. Palo Verde NPP (USA) - 4174 MW
It is the most powerful nuclear power plant in the United States. But today the capacity of 4174 MW is not the highest indicator, so this NPP is only the eighth in our rating. But Palo Verde is unique in its own way: it is the only nuclear power plant in the world that is not located on the shore of a large reservoir. The concept of the reactors is to cool by using waste water from nearby settlements. However, the violation of the traditions of nuclear power plant design by American engineers raises many questions about the safety of such a power plant.
7.Ohi NPP (Japan) - 4494 MW
Another representative of the Japanese nuclear industry. The reserve of this nuclear power plant contains as many as four operating reactors with a total capacity of 4494 MW. Paradoxically, this is the safest nuclear power plant in Japan. In its entire history, there has not been a single emergency situation related to safety on Okhi. An interesting fact: after the "freeze" of the work of all nuclear power plants and a whole series of technical checks throughout the country in connection with the disaster at Fukushima, the Okhi nuclear power plant was the first to resume work.
6. Nuclear power plant Paluel (France) - 5320 MW
Although this "Frenchwoman" is located on the shore of the reservoir, like other nuclear power plants, it still has one characteristic feature. The Paluel commune is located not far from the nuclear power plant (the question of why the plant got its name immediately disappears).The fact is that all residents of this commune are part-time employees of the nuclear power plant (there are about 1200 people). A kind of communist approach to the problem of employment.
5. NPP Gravelines (France) - 5460 MW
Gravelines is the most powerful nuclear power plant in France. It is located on the shores of the North Sea, the waters of which are used to cool nuclear reactors. France is actively developing its scientific and technical potential in the nuclear field and has a large number of nuclear power plants on its territory, which together have more than fifty nuclear reactors.
4. Hanul NPP (South Korea) - 5900 MW
Hanul is not the only nuclear power plant in South Korea with a capacity of 5900 MW: the Korean "arsenal" also has a Hanbit station. The question arises, why exactly Hanul occupies the fourth line of our rating? The fact is that in the next 5 years, the leading Korean specialists in the field of nuclear energy plan to "accelerate" Hanul to a record 8700 MW. Perhaps, soon our rating will be headed by a new leader.
3. Zaporizhzhya NPP (Ukraine) - 6000 MW
Starting its work in 1993, the Zaporizhzhya NPP has become the most powerful plant in the entire former Soviet space. Today it is the third nuclear power plant in the world and the first in Europe in terms of capacity.
Interesting fact: The Zaporozhye nuclear power plant was built in close proximity to the city of Energodar. With the start of construction, a powerful flow of investments poured into the city, and in general the region received an economic impetus, which made it possible to develop the social and production spheres at a high level.
2. Bruce NPP (Canada) - 6232 MW
Perhaps the most powerful and largest nuclear power plant in all of Canada and the entire North American continent. Bruce NPP is notable for the scale of the occupied area - no less than 932 hectares of land. It has as many as 8 powerful nuclear reactors in its arsenal, which puts the Bruce in second place in our rating. Until the early 2000s, no nuclear power plant could overtake the Zaporozhye nuclear power plant in terms of its performance, but Canadian engineers succeeded. Another feature of the station is its "hedonic" location on the shores of the picturesque Lake Huron.
1. NPP Kashiwazaki-Kariva (Japan) - 8212 MW
Even the 2007 earthquake, after which the power in nuclear reactors had to be lowered, did not prevent this energy giant from retaining world leadership. The maximum capacity of the nuclear power plant is 8212 MW, now its potential has been realized only at 7965 MW. Today it is the most powerful nuclear power plant in the world.
Despite the ambiguous attitude towards nuclear power plants (which is fully justified by many objective reasons), no one will argue that this is the most environmentally friendly production of all existing ones: there is practically no waste from nuclear power plants. In turn, the responsibility for safety rests with the engineers. Literacy in design and construction - and the nuclear industry will have no enemies.