Georgia Energy declared Plant Vogtle Unit 3 commercially operational on July 31, 2023, making it the primary “newly constructed” nuclear energy unit to be added to the U.S. fleet in a long time.
“At present is a historic day for the State of Georgia, Southern Firm, and the whole vitality sector, as we proceed remodeling the best way we energy the lives of hundreds of thousands of People,” Chris Womack, president and CEO of Southern Firm, mentioned in an announcement. “With Unit 3 accomplished, and Unit 4 within the remaining phases of building and testing, this mission exhibits simply how new nuclear can and can play a vital function in attaining a clear vitality future for the US. Bringing this unit safely into service is a credit score to the onerous work and dedication of our groups at Southern Firm and the hundreds of further staff who’ve helped construct that future at this website, in addition to all the companions who’ve helped make at the present time a actuality.”
The Vogtle enlargement mission is including two 1,117-MW Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors—Items 3 and 4—to 2 present reactors at Plant Vogtle which have operated since 1987 and 1989, respectively. Previous to Vogtle Unit 3, the most recent reactor to enter service within the U.S. was the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Watts Bar Unit 2, which got here on-line in 2016. Nonetheless, Watts Bar Unit 2 was technically a deferred unit, building of which started within the Nineteen Seventies. Subsequently, Southern Firm has lengthy thought-about the Vogtle mission the primary “newly constructed” reactor to be constructed within the U.S. since at the least Comanche Peak Unit 2, which entered business operation in August 1993, or Watts Bar Unit 1, which entered service in Could 1996.
Progress has additionally been famous on Unit 4. Final week, Georgia Energy introduced the receipt of the 103(g) discovering from the Nuclear Regulatory Fee (NRC) for Vogtle Unit 4. This discovering was confirmed in an official letter obtained by Southern Nuclear, and signifies that the brand new unit has been constructed and can be operated in conformance with the Mixed License and NRC laws. No additional NRC findings are obligatory to ensure that Southern Nuclear to load gas or start the startup sequence for Unit 4.
As soon as all 4 items are on-line at Plant Vogtle, will probably be the most important nuclear energy station within the U.S. Southern Nuclear will function the brand new items on behalf of the co-owners: Georgia Energy, Oglethorpe Energy, MEAG Energy, and Dalton Utilities.
“The Plant Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear enlargement is one other unbelievable instance of how Georgia Energy is constructing a dependable and resilient vitality future for our state,” mentioned Kim Greene, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Energy. “It will be significant that we make these sorts of long-term investments and see them via so we will proceed offering clear, secure, dependable and reasonably priced vitality to our 2.7 million prospects. At present’s achievement is a testomony to our dedication to doing simply that, and it marks the primary day of the subsequent 60 to 80 years that Vogtle Unit 3 will serve our prospects with clear, dependable vitality.”
The Vogtle mission has been fraught with delays and value overruns over time. Based mostly on unique projections, Unit 3 was anticipated to enter service in 2016. Contractor modifications and different issues led to in depth delays, which additionally triggered the prices for the items to skyrocket. Some estimates recommend prices might have doubled from unique estimates to greater than $30 billion. Nonetheless, Southern Firm considers completion of Unit 3 a serious victory.
“The Vogtle enlargement is an American vitality success story and wouldn’t be potential with out the assist of sturdy private and non-private companions like our companions at North America’s Constructing Trades Unions,” mentioned Tom Fanning, chairman of the Board of Administrators for Southern Firm. Fanning was the CEO of Southern Firm from December 2010 via earlier this 12 months, which included the vast majority of the Vogtle enlargement mission interval. “We proceed to understand their assist and people who have stood with us on the native, state and federal ranges to finish this new clear vitality supply to serve electrical prospects. Offering management in our trade and a dedication to security and high quality are in Southern Firm’s DNA. At present’s milestone on the Vogtle enlargement website underscores this legacy, and I couldn’t be prouder of the dedication our groups have proven in seeing Unit 3 via to completion.”
The ultimate phases of building and testing proceed at Vogtle Unit 4, with the unit projected to be positioned in service throughout the late fourth quarter 2023 or the primary quarter of 2024. The unit accomplished sizzling useful testing in Could, in considerably much less time than Unit 3 because the crew continues leveraging finest practices and learnings from the sooner unit, Georgia Energy mentioned. The Vogtle website has additionally obtained nuclear gas for Unit 4, which features a complete of 157 gas assemblies.
—Aaron Larson is POWER’s government editor (@POWERmagazine).