An unprecedented threat is forcing Hungary to rethink how its most important nuclear facility can keep operating through extreme drought.
Hungary is preparing to begin construction of a riverbed weir on the Danube on August 13. The structure is intended to raise the water level near the Paks nuclear power plant, which requires river water to cool its reactors.
Prolonged drought and periods of extreme heat have caused the Danube to reach record-low water levels. Due to the low water level, the Paks nuclear power plant has faced the risk of shutdown for the first time in its 44 years of operation.
Why the Paks Nuclear Power Plant Depends on the Danube’s Water Level
The plant uses water from the Danube to cool its four reactors. Its installed capacity is 2,000 megawatts, but electricity generation currently exceeds just 10% of that figure.
The Paks nuclear power plant is important to Hungary’s energy system, accounting for approximately one-third of the country’s total electricity generation.
How They Plan to Raise the Water Level
Péter Magyar said that the riverbed weir would be built upstream from the nuclear plant. The low structure, made of concrete or stone, is expected to slow the flow of water and raise its level by about one metre.
Approximately 145,000 cubic metres of rock are planned to be brought in for the work. Two 80-metre barges will also be positioned near the nuclear power plant. If necessary, they can be sunk to raise the Danube’s water level by an additional 20 centimetres and ensure the stable operation of the cooling pumps.
These temporary measures are expected to help keep the Paks nuclear power plant operating amid critically low water levels in the Danube.