Unit 1 at Cernavodă will be modernized by ABB for another 30 years of operation

ABB has been selected by Ansaldo Nucleare, the contractor for engineering, procurement and construction services, to modernize the control and safety systems of Unit 1 at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. The project aims to extend the reactor’s operating life by another 30 years and maintain a stable, low-carbon source of energy for Romania. The modernization will replace the existing systems with the ABB Ability System 800xA platform. The work includes the distributed control system, the emergency shutdown system for Category B and C functions, cybersecurity solutions, as well as engineering and testing activities. ABB will also cover the Category A functions of the backup diesel generators through a combination of conventional equipment and fixed wiring. The new platform will centralize and cybersecure critical operations, with the aim of increasing the plant’s long-term reliability and performance. ABB systems are already in use at Unit 2 of Cernavodă, which has been operating since 2007. The plant operates two CANDU-6 reactors: Unit 1 has been operating since 1996, and Unit 2 since 2007. Nuclear energy accounts for approximately 18-20% of Romania’s total electricity production. The modernization is taking place in the context of growing energy demand and the need for stable sources to complement variable solar and wind energy production.