Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant
Topic: Energy Resources of India: Conventional and Non-conventional · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant is in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, on the coast near India's southern tip. It uses Russian VVER-1000 reactors. These are pressurised water reactors: water under high pressure takes heat from the core to make steam. Units 1 and 2 have run since 2013 and 2016, and four more are being built. It is a key part of India's plan to grow nuclear power with foreign help.
Example
Kudankulam stands on the Gulf of Mannar coast in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu. Sea water there cools the reactors.
Don't confuse with
- Kalpakkam: also in Tamil Nadu, but near Chennai. It runs Indian-designed reactors and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor. Kudankulam uses Russian VVER reactors.
Related concepts
- Nuclear energy
- Uranium
- Thorium
- Bhabha Atomic Research Centre
- Tarapur Atomic Power Station
- Jaitapur nuclear project
- Three-stage nuclear power programme
- Pressurised heavy water reactor
- Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor
- Small modular reactor