ABB, cited by Economica.net, announced that it has been selected by engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor Ansaldo Nucleare to upgrade the control and safety systems of Unit 1 at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant in Romania, supporting the long-term operation of one of the country's main low-carbon energy sources.

The project will support the extension of Unit 1's operating life by another 30 years, helping to ensure the continued delivery of reliable, low-carbon energy to the grid. Nuclear power accounts for approximately 18%-20% of Romania's total electricity production.

The project will replace the existing systems with ABB Ability System 800xA, covering the distributed control system, the emergency stop system applicable to Category B and C functions, as well as cybersecurity solutions, including engineering and testing. ABB's scope of activity also includes the Category A functions of the diesel standby generators, implemented through a combination of conventional hard-wired equipment.

The control and safety systems upgrade will provide a centralised and cyber-secure platform designed to improve operational reliability and support the plant's long-term performance.

Cernavodă currently operates two CANDU-6 nuclear units, with Unit 1 in operation since 1996 and Unit 2 since 2007. ABB systems have been operating at Unit 2 of Cernavodă since 2007.

iulian@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Nuclearelectrica)