Paks II. project company submitted its site license application

10/28/16, 6:00 AM
The establishment of the new nuclear power plant units reached another milestone, since on 27 October 2016 the project company submitted its site license application to the competent authority, the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority.

Hungary is still among the firsts in the European electricity price competition. According to the data of the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority, the average electricity price in Hungary was 10.85 eurocents/kWh in May. Only in Serbia was it cheaper, 7.55 eurocents/kWh. In Austria, one of the neighboring countries that prefers renewables, consumers pay twice the Hungarian electricity price (20.99 eurocents/kWh). Denmark is the second most expensive country according to statistics (27.27 eurocents/kWh).

In Germany, which bases its energy mix mainly on renewable sources and rejects nuclear energy, the average price of electricity is three times higher than in Hungary: here the household consumer pays 32.65 eurocents for one kWh of electricity. With this price, Germany is the most expensive in the ranking.

Of the EU member states, Germany is not only the most expensive, but also leading in carbon emissions. Last year, Germany was ranked eighth among the 28 Member States of the European Union in terms of CO₂ emissions from the production of one MWh of electricity (starting with the most polluting one), which was not very illustrious. The EU has the most wind and solar capacity here, but due to the fluctuating production of weather-dependent energy sources, fossil power plants very often ensure the continuity of supply. Thus, in 2019, the production of one MWh of electricity in Germany may be associated with 40% more CO₂ emissions than in Hungary.

Acquiring the site lisence is two-step process. The first step was when the project company compiled the program of the site investigation and evaluation, which was approved by the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) in November 2014. That program was made with the broad and detailed knowledge of the site. Its purpose was to  take advantage of the technical capabilities of the 21st century and define the standards of the site on an advanced technical and scientific level. While preparing the program, the currently operating nuclear establishments’ site investigation and analysis data were also used as well.

Based on ENTSO-E 2019 data

During the second step the site investigation and evaluation program was implemented. The process was accompanied by a multi-level control. The goal of the site investigation and evaluation is to identify every natural and human circumstances, characterize their effects on design of the nuclear power plant and verify the safety. The site license application has to prove the site is fit for establishing a nuclear power plant. The site license application must also present the data obtained during the site investigation. The date representing the on-site dangers must be available and these should be taken into consideration when designing the nuclear power plant.

The works of the Geological Research Program did not stop at night (deep drilling work next to Madocsa, May 2016)
 
The key statement of the site investigation and evaluation is that the site is suitable for accomodating new nuclear power plant units. The site features were defined by a technical and scientific standard, and as these are taken into account, and by the compliance of the safety regulations the new units can be designed and established.

The HAEA authorized the site license application. The date and locale of the public hearing (which is part of the licensing process) will be specified by the competent authority, and will provide information in a notice. The Paks II. project company will also report about the date and locale of the public hearing.


(Photos: Tamás Nagy, MVM Paks II. Ltd.)