Vogtle Electric Generating Plant

Vogtle Unit 4 connects to electric grid for the first time

Retrieved on: 
Friday, March 1, 2024

ATLANTA, March 1, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today that Unit 4 at the Vogtle nuclear expansion project near Waynesboro, Georgia, has achieved another major milestone in startup testing by generating electricity and successfully synchronizing and connecting to the electric grid for the first time. This milestone follows initial criticality, reached on February 14, when operators safely started the nuclear reaction inside the reactor, generating nuclear heat to produce steam.

Key Points: 
  • Connecting to the electric grid is part of ongoing startup testing for Vogtle Unit 4.
  • Once all startup testing is successfully completed and the unit is available for reliable dispatch, Vogtle Unit 4 will enter commercial operation.
  • Vogtle Unit 3 entered commercial operation on July 31, 2023, ( read more ) and is providing safe, reliable, emission-free energy to Georgia today.
  • Southern Nuclear is operating the new units on behalf of the co-owners: Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.

Vogtle Unit 4 reaches initial criticality

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, February 14, 2024

ATLANTA, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today that Unit 4 at the Vogtle nuclear expansion project near Waynesboro, Georgia, has safely reached initial criticality. Initial criticality is a key step during the startup testing sequence and demonstrates that -- for the first time -- operators have safely started the nuclear reaction inside the second reactor. This means atoms are being split and nuclear heat is being made, which will be used to produce steam. 

Key Points: 
  • ATLANTA, Feb. 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today that Unit 4 at the Vogtle nuclear expansion project near Waynesboro, Georgia, has safely reached initial criticality.
  • Initial criticality is a key step during the startup testing sequence and demonstrates that -- for the first time -- operators have safely started the nuclear reaction inside the second reactor.
  • Achieving initial criticality is necessary to continue the startup of the unit in order to generate sufficient heat for the production of electricity.
  • Vogtle Unit 3 entered commercial operation on July 31, 2023, ( read more ) and is providing safe, reliable, emission-free energy to Georgia today.

Historic Contract Paves the Way for Site Work on Poland’s First Nuclear Power Plant

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, September 27, 2023

Westinghouse Electric Company, Bechtel and Polish utility Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe today signed the Engineering Services Contract for Poland’s first nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in Pomerania.

Key Points: 
  • Westinghouse Electric Company, Bechtel and Polish utility Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe today signed the Engineering Services Contract for Poland’s first nuclear power plant at the Lubiatowo-Kopalino site in Pomerania.
  • Ambassador to Poland Mark Brzezinski; Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs Andrew Light; President of Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe Mateusz Berger.
  • “One week ago, Westinghouse and Bechtel, leaders of the American civil nuclear power sector, formed a consortium to design and build the first nuclear power plant under the Polish Nuclear Power Program.
  • Today's event concludes the planning stage of the nuclear power plant and commences the execution phase with relevant engineering work.

Westinghouse Congratulates Vogtle Team on Start of Fuel Load for Unit 4

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 17, 2023

Westinghouse Electric Company congratulates Georgia Power, Southern Nuclear, and other Vogtle project partners, on fuel load for the new Plant Vogtle Unit 4 AP1000® reactor near Waynesboro, GA. Vogtle’s Unit 3 AP1000 reactor entered commercial operation on July 31.

Key Points: 
  • Westinghouse Electric Company congratulates Georgia Power, Southern Nuclear, and other Vogtle project partners, on fuel load for the new Plant Vogtle Unit 4 AP1000® reactor near Waynesboro, GA. Vogtle’s Unit 3 AP1000 reactor entered commercial operation on July 31.
  • The advanced nuclear fuel for Unit 4 was manufactured at Westinghouse’s Columbia Fuel Fabrication Facility in South Carolina.
  • Vogtle features four Westinghouse pressurized water reactors, including the two new AP1000 reactors.
  • Over 135 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle.

FUEL LOAD MARKS CRITICAL STEP TOWARD PLANT VOGTLE UNIT 4 COMMERCIAL OPERATION

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 17, 2023

TUCKER, Ga., Aug. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Oglethorpe Power President & CEO Mike Smith issued the following statement regarding fuel load at Plant Vogtle Unit 4. Oglethorpe Power is a co-owner of Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4.

Key Points: 
  • TUCKER, Ga., Aug. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Oglethorpe Power President & CEO Mike Smith issued the following statement regarding fuel load at Plant Vogtle Unit 4.
  • "On the heels of Unit 3 reaching commercial operation, today's good news of fuel load at Unit 4 continues the site's positive momentum and marks another significant milestone at the Vogtle construction project, which represents the first advanced commercial nuclear project in the U.S. in more than three decades," said Smith.
  • Fuel load is one of the last major milestones before Unit 4 joins Unit 3 in commercial operation.
  • As one of the largest clean energy projects in the nation, once Unit 4 reaches commercial operation, Plant Vogtle will become the largest producer of emissions-free energy in the United States.

Vogtle Unit 4 starts nuclear fuel load

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, August 17, 2023

ATLANTA, Aug. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today the process to load fuel into the Vogtle Unit 4 reactor core has begun at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga. Loading fuel marks a pivotal milestone toward startup and commercial operation of the second new unit at Plant Vogtle. Vogtle Unit 3 – the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the U.S. in more than 30 years – entered commercial operation on July 31, and is providing customers and the State of Georgia with reliable, emissions-free energy. Read more.

Key Points: 
  • ATLANTA, Aug. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power announced today the process to load fuel into the Vogtle Unit 4 reactor core has begun at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga. Loading fuel marks a pivotal milestone toward startup and commercial operation of the second new unit at Plant Vogtle.
  • Vogtle Unit 3 – the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the U.S. in more than 30 years – entered commercial operation on July 31, and is providing customers and the State of Georgia with reliable, emissions-free energy.
  • The start of Unit 4 fuel load comes after Southern Nuclear received the 103(g) finding from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in July which signified that the new unit has been constructed and will be operated in conformance with the Combined License and NRC regulations.
  • During fuel load, nuclear technicians from Westinghouse and operators from Southern Nuclear are scheduled to safely install 157 fuel assemblies into the Unit 4 reactor core in the coming days.

This Week in Energy News: 11 Stories You Need to See

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 4, 2023

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists covering the energy and natural resources industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire.
  • To help journalists covering the energy and natural resources industry stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a roundup of stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.
  • The list below includes the headline (with a link to the full text) and an excerpt from each story.
  • This would enable Rock Tech to pass another step toward its goal of achieving climate neutrality in production.

The Week in Press Releases: 11 Stories You Need to See

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 4, 2023

NEW YORK, Aug. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With thousands of press releases published each week, it can be difficult to keep up with everything on PR Newswire. To help journalists and consumers stay on top of the week's most newsworthy and popular releases, here's a recap of some major stories from the week that shouldn't be missed.

Key Points: 
  • Featuring more than 350 items total, including over 200 products under $20, the new collection ranges from apparel, accessories and home décor to toys and treats.
  • In addition to these popular releases, several must-read earnings reports crossed the wire this week, including the quarterly results for Wayfair , Zillow , Thomson Reuters , and CVS Health .
  • These are just a few of the recent press releases that consumers and the media should know about.
  • Related Resources: Our journalist- and blogger-focused blog, Beyond Bylines , features regular media news roundups, writing tips, upcoming events, and more.

The Era of Advanced Nuclear Energy Arrives in the U.S. with First AP1000® Reactor Achieving Commercial Operation at Vogtle

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 31, 2023

The first U.S. Gen III+ advanced nuclear Westinghouse AP1000® reactor today entered commercial operation at Southern Nuclear’s Plant Vogtle.

Key Points: 
  • The first U.S. Gen III+ advanced nuclear Westinghouse AP1000® reactor today entered commercial operation at Southern Nuclear’s Plant Vogtle.
  • Westinghouse congratulates the team at Southern, Georgia Power, and the project partners for achieving commercial operation at Unit 3.
  • The AP1000 reactors at Vogtle are the first new nuclear build projects in the U.S. in more than 30 years.
  • Over 135 years of innovation makes Westinghouse the preferred partner for advanced technologies covering the complete nuclear energy life cycle.

OGLETHORPE POWER CELEBRATES COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF PLANT VOGTLE UNIT 3

Retrieved on: 
Monday, July 31, 2023

TUCKER, Ga., July 31, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Oglethorpe Power, on behalf of the Georgia electric cooperatives it serves, commended the safe and successful achievement of commercial operation for Plant Vogtle Unit 3, which marks a historic accomplishment for the energy industry, the state of Georgia and the entire nation. Now in service, the Unit is available for safe and reliable dispatch and will provide emission-free, baseload power for Georgians for the next 60 to 80 years.

Key Points: 
  • When Unit 4 enters service, emission-free nuclear energy will account for nearly half of the energy Oglethorpe Power generates for its member cooperatives and the 4.4 million Georgians they serve.
  • Once Unit 4 reaches commercial operation, Plant Vogtle will become the largest producer of emission-free energy in the United States.
  • "Oglethorpe Power commends the efforts of the dedicated men and women who make up the Plant Vogtle workforce.
  • "Additionally, with the recent receipt of the 103(g) finding for Unit 4, the site has achieved another critical milestone toward loading fuel, which means we are one step closer to Unit 4 joining Unit 3 in safe commercial operation."