5 Largest Nuclear Power Plants In India
- Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant is India’s largest nuclear power plant followed by Tarapur and Kakrapar
- Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant is India’s first nuclear power plant that has a total capacity of 1,400 Mega Watts
India is the world’s 3rd largest power producer and 2nd largest consumer. Coal is the largest source of electricity in India followed by gas, hydro and wind power. Nuclear power stands at 5th spot in the country’s power generation. India has around 8 nuclear power plants that runs 22 nuclear reactors. Together all nuclear power plants holds a capacity of generating close to 7,400 MW of power. Top 5 largest nuclear power plants in India alone hold a capacity of generating around 6,500 MW. Let’s take a look at them:
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Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant
Which is the largest nuclear power plant in India? It is Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant situated in Tamil Nadu. This nuclear power plant has an installed capacity of 6,000 MW but produces only 2,000 MW. construction of the plant was started way back in 2002 but it faced several delays due to protests held by locals. NPCIL (Nuclear Power Corporation Of India Ltd) the governing body of India’s nuclear power generation operates this plant at 33% of installed capacity.
| Capacity | 2,000 MW |
| Reactors | 2 |
| Units | 6 (2 Operational) |
| Construction Began | 2002 |
| Location | Kundankulam, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu |
Kundankulam Nuclear Power Plant has 2 reactors and 6 units. Only unit 1 and 2 are operational till date. Rest 4 units are under construction and NPCIL plans to make them operational from 2023. Each unit has a capacity of generating 1,000 MW of power. Government of India has already spent around ₹17,000 crore in construction of first two units. Rest 4 units will be constructed at a huge cost of ₹90,000 crore.
Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant
India’s first nuclear power plant is Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant in Maharashtra. Construction of this nuclear power plant was started in 1961 and completed in 1969. The Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant has 4 reactors and units that can produce 1,400 MW of power. Unit 1 and 2 started their operations in 1969 while Unit 3 and 4 became operational in 2006 and 2005. BHEL, L&T and Gammon India are India’s leading companies that supplied pressurized heavy water reactors of 540 MW each for the plant.
| Capacity | 1,400 MW |
| Reactors | 4 |
| Units | 4 |
| Construction Began | 1961 |
| Location | Tarapur, Maharashtra |
When India became a nuclear power in 1974 after operation Smiling Buddha, the Tarapur plant faced several hurdles. USA stopped supplying enriched Uranium for the plant and after that India went to France, China and Russia for Uranium. Kazakhstan is the India’s top Uranium supplier. Between 2015-19, India got 5,000 tonnes of Uranium from Kazakhstan.
Kakrapar Nuclear Power Plant
Kakrapar Nuclear Power Plant is India’s 3rd largest nuclear power plant in Gujarat. This plant has 3 reactors and operational units that generates 1140 MW of power. First two units are of 220 MW and 3rd is of 700 MW. Another unit of 700 MW capacity is under construction. Unit 1 started in operation in 1993 and in 1995 unit 2 became operational. In 2021, Unit 3 started its operation while Unit 4 is scheduled for 2024. India’s leading construction company L&T constructed the India’s first indigenous 700 MW nuclear power plant.
| Capacity | 1140 MW |
| Reactors | 3 |
| Units | 3 |
| Construction Began | 1984 |
| Location | Moti Cher, Gujarat |
Rawatbhata Nuclear Power Plant
India’s 4th largest nuclear plant is Rawatbhata Nuclear Power Plant in Rawatbhata, Rajasthan. This plant has 6 reactors and 8 units. The power generation capacity of Rawatbhata Nuclear Power Plant is 1080 MW. Construction of this plant began in 1963 and 10 years later it became operational in 1973. According to a report by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in 2012, the Rawatbhata Nuclear Power Plant reactors are one of the best in the world.
| Capacity | 1,080 MW |
| Reactors | 6 |
| Units | 8 (6 operational) |
| Construction Began | 1963 |
| Location | Rawatbhata, Rajasthan |
Like Tarapur Nuclear Power Plant, the Rawatbhata plant too suffered a blowback from West. As a result Canada stopped its support for CANDU pressurized heavy water reactors which powers the Unit 1 and 2 of the plant. NPCIL is constructing Unit 7 and Unit 8 in this plant with capacity of 700 MW each. Chambal river is a major cooling source of Rawatbhata Nuclear Power Plant.
Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant
After Rawatbhata Nuclear Power Plant, the India’s 5th largest nuclear power plant is Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant in Karnataka. This plant has 4 reactors and 4 operational units. Two more units are under construction. The total power generation capacity of Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant is 880 MW. In the year 2000, Unit 1 and 2 became operational. Unit 3 started its operation in 2007 and Unit 4 in 2011. All 4 operational units of Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant generates 220 MW of power.
| Capacity | 880 MW |
| Reactors | 4 |
| Units | 4 (operational) |
| Construction Began | 1989 |
| Location | Kaiga, Karnataka |
India is developing many nuclear power plants with significantly higher capacity. Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant will have a capacity of generating huge 9,900 MW of power. In Andhra Pradesh two nuclear power plants are under construction – Kovvada and Kavali. In Chutka, Madhya Pradesh, NPCIL is constructing 1,400 MW nuclear power plant. India has signed nuclear agreement with more than 14 countries and plans to construct several nuclear power plants in coming years.
5 Largest Nuclear Power Plants In India By Capacity:
| Nuclear Power Plant | Capacity |
| Kundankulam | 2,000 MW |
| Tarapur | 1,400 MW |
| Kakrapar | 1140 MW |
| Rawatbhata | 1,080 MW |
| Kaiga | 880 MW |
