35 years after the disaster of Chernobyl, land situated within the 10 km zone around the damaged reactor block 4 remains unusable for human habitation. However, a the partnership between two ukrainian companies, based in Hamburg, , decided to challenge this reality by setting up a solar park in the area affected by radiation.
O German-Ukrainian consortium, which has the participation of EJOT, aims to revitalize as affected areas by the nuclear disaster of Chernobyl, making them habitable again.
According to the company, in October 2017 construction work began on a photovoltaic system of 1 MWp in an area of 1,6 ha – adjacent to the sarcophagus do reactor destroyed. Consisting of 3.762 modules, the project was completed in June 2018.
Currently, the plant generates around 1.024 MWh annually. The energy generated in Chernobyl is being used by the surrounding buildings, mainly dedicated to the disposal and dismantling of the plant – a commitment that extends for almost 50 years, the duration of the lease contract for the area occupied by the system.
EJOT Bolts for Chernobyl
According to the company, the construction of the solar plant in the contaminated area brought some special characteristics that needed to be carefully considered in planning and implementation.
For example, no excavations or dredging were permitted at the site to prevent the release of radiation from the soil. All lines required for the system were installed above ground in specially designed cement blocks.
The experience for building the photovoltaic system was provided by the Ukrainian company from Hamburg, which also prioritized “Made in ” quality when connecting the components of the mounting substructure.
“In total, almost 6 self-drilling screws and almost 12.000 EJOT screws were fixed in this project. This equipment is manufactured in 304 (A2) stainless steel, known for its corrosion resistance and ability to provide reliable and durable fixation”, emphasized the company.
JZ3-6.3×19 E16 screws were used to fix the profiles, rolling a thread into the pre-drilled or stamped hole to ensure a concise and secure fixation. This assembly is suitable for fixing steel and/or aluminum components.
Recently, the Chernobyl solar park received an updated version of the JZ3 and/or JZ5, which stands out as EJOT's most recommended self-tapping screw to date, especially effective when used in high-strength materials.
The JT3-6-5,5×25 E16 self-drilling screws are made of stainless steel with a hardened steel drill bit and are used to fix the profiles to the substructure.
According to EJOT, such products stand out because they do not require prior drilling. They are equally suitable for application to steel and aluminum, and can be used in combination with these two materials with a total thickness of up to 6 mm.
The JZ5 succeeds the JZ3 self-tapping screw, used in the Chernobyl photovoltaic project, and is ideal for fixing profile sheets and sandwich elements in thicker steel substructures.
Other project features
After a construction period of almost 10 years, in July 2019, the new “New Safe Confinement” protective covering, also known as the “Chernobyl Arch”, was put into operation over the damaged ancient Block 4 sarcophagus. Almost three million EJOT JT3 self-tapping screws were used to fasten various shapes of metal tiles, as well as internal and external cladding elements.
To ensure the durability of the new protective cover and therefore its screw fixings, special reports were carried out to analyze the influence of radiation on stainless steels. “We are aware of the great responsibility we assume by participating in this project.”
“At the same time, however, we are also very proud to be able to contribute to this powerful work, which is extremely important for all of us, with our durable and high-quality products”, explains Dr. Jens Oliver Weber, managing director of EJOT .
About the disaster in Chernobyl
On April 26, 1986, a devastating explosion occurred in reactor 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, located in Ukraine, triggering one of the worst nuclear disasters in human history.
The incident resulted in significant loss of human life, both directly and through its indirect consequences. An extensive area of approximately 6.400 km² around the damaged plant had to be evacuated due to severe exposure to radiation. At the time, it was assumed that this region would remain uninhabitable for humans for hundreds, or even thousands, of years.
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