Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
Newsroom
Feb 27, 2026
Montáže Čakovice Collaborates With SEL to Upgrade Nuclear Generation Protection
PULLMAN, Washington—When a protection engineering challenge threatened to derail the modernization schedule at the ČEZ Temelín nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic, integrator Montáže Čakovice worked with SEL to find a solution. SEL and Montáže Čakovice designed the protection solution for engineering firm I&C Energo, which implemented the new system at the ČEZ Temelín nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic.SEL protective relays were key to the success of the project, as competitor relays lacked the flexibility necessary to function reliably with the existing CTs at the nuclear plant. SEL used its Real Time Digital Simulator (RTDS) testing facility and hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) testing to model the generation system and validate the solution before installation, ensuring safety and reliability.“The contract very strictly prescribes what to do and how much time you have,” said Jiří Kropáček, division director at I&C Energo. “When the unit is out of operation, every hour has a cost. It is very difficult to do retrofits in such a strictly prescribed time, and [SEL ensured that] there were no problems.”In addition to protecting generators and associated equipment, the protection system provides advanced monitoring and event reporting, enabling operators to diagnose issues and prevent future outages. The protection system is based entirely on SEL digital devices: the SEL-400G Advanced Generator Protection System, the SEL-2664S Stator Ground Protection Relay, SEL Real-Time Automation Controllers (RTACs) and SEL network switches. As grid systems around the world face rapid growth in demand driven by increased electrification, data center expansion and artificial intelligence, nuclear power is reemerging as a critical component of energy strategy. At the COP28 global climate conference in 2023, more than 20 countries pledged to triple their nuclear capacity by 2050. Support has continued to grow. Today, over 30 countries have joined the pledge, and more than a dozen major corporations around the world have committed to backing nuclear expansion.In the U.S., the Department of Energy has announced ambitious goals to quadruple nuclear capacity from 100 GW to 400 GW by 2050, restart retired reactors, extend the life of existing plants and construct at least 10 new large reactors by 2030. These initiatives also include pilot programs for advanced reactors and streamlined licensing processes to accelerate deployment. SEL helps make these goals achievable by delivering advanced protection and automation solutions that integrate seamlessly with existing nuclear infrastructure and support the grid systems that nuclear plants connect to. For nuclear plant operators considering reactor restarts or life extension projects, the system modeling, HIL testing and power engineering expertise of SEL can make it possible to implement modern protection systems without costly primary equipment replacements. SEL also provides safe, reliable and economical protection and control solutions for new nuclear facilities.Read about the ČEZ Temelín nuclear plant project, and learn more about SEL nuclear solutions.