Expediency of nuclear power use in Russia

Nuclear plants incorporated in the Russia 's United Power System play a significant role, since the powerful and economical NPPs like Kola, Leningrad, Kalinin, Smolensk, Kursk, Novovoronezh and Balakovo determine the structure of high-voltage power transmission lines of the Russia 's European part. They are located in the key points of the power system and ensure reliable functioning of the country's power industry as a whole. Being located in crucial points of the grid, in the vicinity of state borders, they ensure' electricity export from the wholesale energy market via high-voltage lines to Finland, Commonwealth of Independent States and Baltic states. While producing 13% of electric power in Russia, NPPs supply 37% of electricity to the federal, (all-Russian) wholesale energy and power market, and the nuclear share in the electricity export from the wholesale market is equal. (authors)