Expert Opinion from the Ukrainian Nuclear Society in The Independent: How Climate Adaptation Strengthens Energy Independence

The British newspaper The Independent has published an analytical article examining the impact of extreme summer heat and declining river levels on the operation of nuclear power plants across Europe. Volodymyr Kholosha, President of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society (UkrNS), provided expert commentary for the article.

In his comments, the UkrNS President emphasized that, unlike a number of Western European nuclear power plants that rely on direct river water intake, Ukrainian NPPs benefit from significant design advantages:

1. Diversified cooling technologies: The availability of dedicated cooling ponds and reservoirs at Khmelnytskyi NPP (KhNPP), South Ukraine NPP (SUNPP), and Zaporizhzhia NPP (ZNPP), as well as the use of cooling towers at Rivne NPP (RNPP), makes Ukraine’s nuclear generation significantly less vulnerable to seasonal hydrological fluctuations.
2. Ensuring operational stability: High ambient temperatures are not a limiting factor for the safe operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants. Potential fluctuations in turbine condenser efficiency are mitigated through planned technical and operational measures.
3. Strategic importance of climate adaptation: Climate adaptation is a key component of long-term energy independence. For existing facilities, this involves technical upgrades to cooling ponds and circulation systems, while new nuclear units should incorporate advanced cooling technologies — including dry or hybrid cooling towers — from the design stage.

The expert noted that ensuring the resilience of nuclear power generation to climate change helps prevent the need for additional electricity imports during periods of peak summer demand and contributes to the reliability of the country’s power supply.

The original article is available on The Independent website.