Rheinsberg Nuclear Power Plant
Encyclopedia
Rheinsberg Nuclear Power
Station was the second nuclear reactor in East Germany after the Rossendorf Research Reactor
, and the first nuclear power reactor in East Germany. It was built close to the city of Rheinsberg
on the Stechlinsee. The power station was one of the first generation of demonstration power reactors.
was of Soviet design - type VVER-210
. Gross power of the station was 70 MWe, but 8 MWe was required to run plant systems, so net output to the grid was 62 MWe. Gross power output was subsequently raised to 75 MWe and then 80 MWe as operating experience increased. Cooling water was taken from the Nehmitzsee
and by a special discharge channel was discharged into the Stechlinsee. The plant accumulated 130,000 hours of operating time.
in 1990 put an end to operations the power station was shut down due to safety problems. An end-of-life shutdown in 1992 had been scheduled in any case.
Since 1995 the plant has been undergoing decommissioning
activities conducted by the company previously operating the plant during its active life (Energiewerke Nord GmbH). Radioactive materials are being moved to a temporary storage facility.
The area is under consideration for either site "greening" or conversion into an industrial complex once the plant has been dismantled and made safe.
The worst accident occurring at the plant during operation was classified as an INES 2-level event. A tear in tubing in a cooling circuit was noticed quickly and was repaired. In 2011, Deutschlandradio Kultur
produced a radioplay about this event. "Rheinsberger Restlaufzeit" combines a fictional story with original sound clips of the former spokesman of the nuclear power plant as he reconstructs the events of 1973.
Nuclear plants built in the former East Germany
Nuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
Station was the second nuclear reactor in East Germany after the Rossendorf Research Reactor
Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf
The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf is a German research laboratory in Dresden and member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres...
, and the first nuclear power reactor in East Germany. It was built close to the city of Rheinsberg
Rheinsberg
Rheinsberg is a town and a municipality in the Ostprignitz-Ruppin district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated on the river Rhin, approx. 20 km north-east of Neuruppin and 75 km north-west of Berlin.-History:...
on the Stechlinsee. The power station was one of the first generation of demonstration power reactors.
Start-up
The project commenced in 1956, and construction began January 1, 1960. First criticality followed on March 11, 1966 (the reactor was not pressurised at that time however). Full start-up did not take place until May 9, and commercial power production didn't begin until October 11, 1966.Achievement
The single pressurized water reactorPressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactors constitute a large majority of all western nuclear power plants and are one of three types of light water reactor , the other types being boiling water reactors and supercritical water reactors...
was of Soviet design - type VVER-210
VVER
The VVER, or WWER, is a series of pressurised water reactors originally developed by the Soviet Union, and now Russia, by OKB Gidropress. Power output ranges from 440 MWe to 1200 MWe with the latest Russian development of the design...
. Gross power of the station was 70 MWe, but 8 MWe was required to run plant systems, so net output to the grid was 62 MWe. Gross power output was subsequently raised to 75 MWe and then 80 MWe as operating experience increased. Cooling water was taken from the Nehmitzsee
Nehmitzsee
Nehmitzsee is a lake in Landkreis Oberhavel, Brandenburg, Germany. At an elevation of 60.0 m, its surface area is 1.71 km²....
and by a special discharge channel was discharged into the Stechlinsee. The plant accumulated 130,000 hours of operating time.
Safety
Before German reunificationGerman reunification
German reunification was the process in 1990 in which the German Democratic Republic joined the Federal Republic of Germany , and when Berlin reunited into a single city, as provided by its then Grundgesetz constitution Article 23. The start of this process is commonly referred by Germans as die...
in 1990 put an end to operations the power station was shut down due to safety problems. An end-of-life shutdown in 1992 had been scheduled in any case.
Since 1995 the plant has been undergoing decommissioning
Nuclear decommissioning
Nuclear decommissioning is the dismantling of a nuclear power plant and decontamination of the site to a state no longer requiring protection from radiation for the general public...
activities conducted by the company previously operating the plant during its active life (Energiewerke Nord GmbH). Radioactive materials are being moved to a temporary storage facility.
The area is under consideration for either site "greening" or conversion into an industrial complex once the plant has been dismantled and made safe.
The worst accident occurring at the plant during operation was classified as an INES 2-level event. A tear in tubing in a cooling circuit was noticed quickly and was repaired. In 2011, Deutschlandradio Kultur
Deutschlandradio Kultur
Deutschlandradio Kultur is the culture-oriented radio station of the German national Deutschlandradio service...
produced a radioplay about this event. "Rheinsberger Restlaufzeit" combines a fictional story with original sound clips of the former spokesman of the nuclear power plant as he reconstructs the events of 1973.
See also
- Repository for radioactive waste MorslebenRepository for radioactive waste MorslebenThe repository for radioactive waste Morsleben is a deep geological repository for radioactive waste in the rock salt mine Bartensleben in Morsleben, district Börde in the federal state Saxony-Anhalt.-History:...
Nuclear plants built in the former East Germany
- Stendal Nuclear Power PlantStendal Nuclear Power PlantThe Nuclear power station Stendal was a nuclear power station under construction in East Germany, near the city Arneburg, Stendal in Bezirk Magdeburg, today Saxony-Anhalt....
- Greifswald Nuclear Power PlantGreifswald Nuclear Power PlantThe Nuclear power station Greifswald , also known as nuclear power station Lubmin, was the largest nuclear power station in East Germany before closure shortly after the German reunification. The plants were of the VVER-440/V-230 type, which was the first generation of Soviet Union designed plants...