India’s Third Indigenous 700 MW Nuclear Reactor Commissioned In Rajasthan

On March 17, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) successfully commissioned India’s third indigenous 700 MW pressurised heavy water reactor (PHWR) at the Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP) in Rawatbhata.

This marks a significant milestone, increasing India’s nuclear power generation capacity to 8,880 megawatts (MW).

The successful commissioning of Unit 7 at RAPP follows strict adherence to regulatory requirements, including those set by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB).

According to NPCIL’s statement, the reactor was connected to the Northern Grid at 02:37 hrs on March 17.

Following this, the power level of the unit will gradually increase in steps until it reaches full capacity, in line with the necessary regulatory clearances.

Advancement Of Indigenous Nuclear Technology

NPCIL has developed RAPP-7 as the third reactor in India’s 700 MW series of 16 indigenous PHWRs, currently under construction across the country.

Equipped with advanced safety features, these reactors rank among the safest nuclear reactors in the world, according to NPCIL.

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The grid connection of RAPP-7 comes after the successful operation of the first two 700 MW PHWR units KAPS 3 and 4 at the Kakrapar Atomic Power Station in Gujarat.

This achievement showcases the strength of NPCIL’s 700 MW PHWR design and the technical capabilities of NPCIL and Indian industries in the nuclear energy sector.

The Role Of Nuclear Power In India’s Clean Energy Future

Nuclear power is classified as a zero-emission clean energy source, though it is not renewable. It generates electricity through nuclear fission, where uranium atoms are split to produce energy.

The process releases heat, which creates steam that drives turbines to generate electricity.

Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear energy does not emit harmful by-products, making it an environmentally friendly option for meeting rising power demands.

The PHWR technology used in RAPP-7 utilizes natural uranium, heavy water coolant, and a calandria, a horizontal cylindrical vessel, to generate nuclear energy.

India’s Path To Achieving 100 GW Nuclear Power By 2047

NPCIL Chairman and Managing Director, Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, emphasized the significance of these 700 MW nuclear reactors in meeting India’s ambitious goal of 100 gigawatts of nuclear energy capacity by 2047, as part of the Nuclear Energy Mission.

Each 700 MW reactor generates about 5.2 billion units of clean electricity annually at an 85% plant load factor, while also preventing the emission of approximately 4.5 million tons of CO2-equivalent emissions.

Boosting National Power Capacity

Rajasthan’s Rawatbhata site already houses six operational units with a combined capacity of 1,180 MW. With the addition of RAPP-7, NPCIL now operates 25 reactors across India, further strengthening the country’s nuclear energy infrastructure.

As India moves toward achieving its net-zero emissions target by 2047, the growing role of nuclear power becomes increasingly vital.

While renewable energy plays a crucial part in this transition, nuclear energy offers a reliable and constant energy supply, helping address the intermittent nature of renewable sources and ensuring India can meet its future energy needs.