DPC-NPP Energoatom of NAEK

2020

Cooperation with Bitfury Group for construction of data centers on the NPP

On October 13, 2020 it became known of the beginning of construction of data centers on the NPP of Energoatom. For implementation of this project the agreement on cooperation with the Dutch technology company Bitfury Holding was signed. Read more here.

The beginning of construction of DPC for $700 million

On August 20, 2020 the largest power producer in Ukraine announced Energoatom construction as he claims in the company, the data center, largest in Europe. For project implementation the agreement with H2 LLC developing eco-friendly power solutions was signed. Investments into DPC are estimated at $700 million.

The data processing center will be constructed near the Zaporizhia nuclear power station. Power of DPC will be 1 GW. For comparison: the maximum electric power of the Zaporizhia NPP — 6 GW. Other technical characteristics of an object by August 21, 2020 do not reveal.

The project financing source is also unknown — whether will participate in it the states or the data center will be under construction only on money of private investors. At the same time interest in this project was shown by the president of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky.

Ukrainian Energoatom builds the data center, largest in Europe, for $700 million

According to the press service of Energoatom, signing of the document between heads of Energoatom and H2 companies" took place at presence American the leader during his working trip to Zaporizhia during which the strategy of development for the region till 2027 was submitted.

According to the RusCable edition (specializes in a power subject), in the south of Ukraine by August, 2020 is observed noticeable overproduction of energy. It is promoted both falling of industrial production, and gradually growing share of solar and wind farms in power balance of the country. In particular, because of it the operator of the NPP of Ukraine Energoatom in July, 2020 displaid one of power units of the Zaporizhia nuclear power station in a reserve. However the situation can soon change, and then commercial application — for work of the data center, largest in Europe, will be found for excess energy.^[1][2]

Energoatom will start data centers instead of mining farms

The Energoatom enterprise does not consider projects on creation of farms about Mining by cryptocurrency in Ukraine. In May, 2020 reported about it to Babel in the answer to a query^[3].

At the same time, in Energoatom developed a test project on joining of consumers of Data processing centers in the satellite town of the Zaporizhia NPP Enerhodar. Within this project the company management is going to create new infrastructure for energy supply for DPC.

It is reported also that the Energoatom company can also resolve all the technical issues independently, in particular and those that are connected with creation of DPC in Enerhodar.

The company emphasized that the main obstacle still is the lack of permission for the NPP to implementation of the electric power with installation of the corresponding rate of "direct connection" for the electric power.

At present in plans of the company it is going by DPC to construct near the platform of the Rivne NPP.

Data centers in the territories adjacent to the NPP

Creation of data processing centers (the DPC-NPP or data centers) in the territories adjacent to nuclear power stations, will provide for National Nuclear Energy Generating Company "Energoatom" of the regular consumer of the electric power.

Even long before emergence of the crisis phenomena in the Ukrainian power and the surplus of the generating capacities caused by them, Energoatom began to study possibilities of creation of the self-sufficient data processing centers for the solution of a broad spectrum of tasks for the benefit of the state. In the conditions of proportional decrease in electricity generation atomic, gidro-and thermal generation which is provided by the updated energy balance by 2020 creation of DPC acquires for Energoatom still big relevance, the company is forced to look for new opportunities for sale of the electric power made by the NPP.

Thanks to implementation of the corresponding projects the company expects to provide issue of power of nuclear power stations in the mode of dispatching restriction at the expense of the guaranteed loading from DPC.

In Energoatom the pilot project on joining of consumers of DPC with a power up to 1000 MW to the electric networks, with selection of the first stage of 30 MW, in the satellite town of the Zaporizhia NPP Enerhodar is developed. The project provides creation of new infrastructure of issue of power of ORU-750 of kV of ZAES for long-term electrical supplies for ensuring requirements of DPC.

The project also provides ORU-750 expansion of kV of ZAES and reconstruction of substation of 150 kV the Rainbow.

Thus, Energoatom expands opportunities for the solution of all technical issues connected with creation of DPC in ZAES satellite town. But the lack of permission for the NPP to implementation of the electric power under the direct agreement from DPC with establishment of the corresponding rate of "direct connection" for the electric power remains the main obstacle for project implementation. This question requires legislative settlement, and Energoatom works on its solution.

The possibility of construction of DPC with a power from 50 MW with the subsequent building to more than 200 MW is considered by Energoatom and near the platform of the Rivne NPP.

Thanks to considerable volumes of consumption and also very big technology flexibility - DPCs can be used for maneuvering / balancing of capacities in power supply system. Maneuverings of DPC AESO Alberta Electric System Operator (Canada) can be an example.: the operator of DPC is approved as participant of the market of the electric power and support services of the Canadian province of Alberta.

Existence in Ukraine to network of powerful data centers, a reliable source of the available electric power for which will be NPPs, will allow to create necessary conditions for full-scale implementation of state policy in the field of digitalization which is implemented the Ministry of digital transformation of Ukraine. Premises for full start and market development of virtual assets in Ukraine will be created.

Projects of creation of the DPC-NPP will allow to attract private investments into NPP satellite towns with creation of new jobs and to increase receipts in state and local budgets. Ukraine will receive a boost for development and implementation of the latest technologies of heavy-duty computer systems.