The largest nuclear power plant in Ukraine and Europe is located in the steppe zone on the banks of the Kakhovka Reservoir. Over the years, it has generated more than 1.1 trillion kWh of electricity. It has an on-site Dry Spent Fuel Storage Facility (DSFSF).
In 1977, the Council of Ministers of the USSR adopted a decision on the construction of Zaporizhzhya NPP under a unified project of nuclear power plants with a VVER-1000 reactor.
In 1981, a phased construction began with the following commissioning:
in 1984 – the first VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In September 2016, the operational lifetime of ZNPP unit 1 was extended until December 23, 2025 (license EO № 001052);
in 1985 – the second VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In October 2016, the operational lifetime of ZNPP unit 2 was extended until February 19, 2026 (license EO № 001055);
n 1986 – the third VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In November 2017, the operational lifetime of ZNPP unit 3 was extended until March 5, 2027 (license EO № 001062);
in 1987 – the fourth VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In October 2018, the operational lifetime of ZNPP unit 4 was extended until April 4, 2028 (license EO № 001069);
in 1989 – the fifth VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW. In January 2021, the license was obtained from the SNRIU for the right to conduct activities at the life cycle stage «operation of the nuclear installation of Zaporizhzhya NPP unit 5»;
in 1995 – the sixth VVER-1000/320 unit with a capacity of 1000 MW.
At the Zaporizhzhya NPP, the first nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the Dry Spent Fuel Storage Facility (DSFSF) has been built. The design capacity of the DSFSF at Zaporizhzhya NPP is 380 containers capable to accommodate 9,000 spent fuel assemblies. The DSFSF will be able to accept spent nuclear fuel of ZNPP for the whole operation period.
