Improving Nuclear Flexibility in the Hungarian Grid

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Since 2021, there is an ongoing cooperative PhD work on how the energy transition and mostly the large-scale development of renewables will impact the grid and more specifically, the operation of traditionally baseload nuclear power plants in Hungary. The general aim of the research was to collect the possible new requirements from the grid side and the possibilities for improving the flexibility of the nuclear power plant (NPP) units. We have investigated the grid side effects by hourly dispatch simulations using PLEXOS software and have compared different flexibility properties of the nuclear power plant units in Hungary. The need for nuclear load reductions has increased substantially in Hungary in the last years. Another important objective of the work was to prepare the implementation of a technology that can safely increase the maneuverability of the power plants as well. The target technology has been chosen after thorough assessment of different solutions and further development of the chosen technology is ongoing. This paper gives an overview of the formulation and evolution of the problem, the studies conducted and the project in a broader perspective.