A perspective of using nuclear power as a dispatchable power source for covering the daily fluctuations of solar power

• Published in: Energy (Oxford) 2023-12, Vol.284, p.128531, Article 128531
• Main Authors: Gerkšič, Samo, Vrančić, Damir, Čalič, Dušan, Žerovnik, Gašper, Trkov, Andrej, Kromar, Marjan, Snoj, Luka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: electricity; electricity generation; neutrons; nuclear power; power generation; power plants; Slovenia; solar energy
• ISSN: 0360-5442
• DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2023.128531

The feasibility and the limitations of using nuclear energy as a dispatchable power source for covering the daily fluctuations of the solar electricity are examined. In particular, the perspective of electricity production in Slovenia until 2050 is investigated, focussing on the projected rapid increase in the solar electricity production and the resulting large-scale annual and daily fluctuations. However, the study is relevant for any electrical grid where photovoltaics is likely to become one of the main sources of electricity. A simulation study based on a nonlinear pressurized water reactor (PWR) model with 2-point neutron kinetics controlled by two groups of control rods using a new simplified control approach is presented. The relevant nonlinearities and the controllability issue affecting this control configuration are discussed. It is shown that a nuclear power plant can be used to compensate for some of the expected power fluctuations using historical data of the solar power production in Slovenia.