| Summary: | This paper considers the possibility for large-scale production of plutonium isotope <sup>238</sup>Pu in the light-water nuclear power reactor VVER-1000. <sup>238</sup>Pu is a unique source of long-term autonomous energy supply in various devices for remote regions of the Earth and in outer space. The design of the irradiation device with <sup>237</sup>NpO<sub>2</sub> as a starting material is proposed, which is placed in the central zone of the VVER-1000 reactor core and makes it possible to achieve 8% of the specific Pu production (Pu/<sup>237</sup>Np) by optimizing the pitch of NpO<sub>2</sub>-rod lattice. The computations showed that the scale of <sup>238</sup>Pu production in the irradiation device was remarkably larger (2 ÷ 7 times more) than similar values in research reactors. At the same time, the use of heavy neutron moderators with low neutron absorption (natural lead or lead isotope <sup>208</sup>Pb) around the NpO<sub>2</sub> fuel assembly (FA) made it possible to obtain high-purity <sup>238</sup>Pu with the content of <sup>236</sup>Pu below 2 ppm. The paper also shows that if the irradiation device is placed in central zone of the VVER-1000 reactor core, then the displacement damage dose in the reactor vessel remains low enough to conserve its strength properties throughout the entire period of the reactor operation (60 years).
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