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File photo of the Vogtle construction site in June 2020. Courtesy Georgia Power. The Vogtle-4 nuclear power plant under construction in the US state of Georgia has been brought to initial energisation, meaning plant equipment is permanently powered.

Georgia Power said energisation is needed to perform all subsequent testing for the AP1000 Westinghouse plant, construction oof which began in November 2013. Construction of Vogtle-3, an identical unit, began in March 2013.

In April, hot functional testing began at Vogtle-3. Hot functional testing – which takes six to eight weeks – marks the last series of major tests for the new unit ahead of initial fuel load.

Date: Thursday, 10 June 2021
Original article: nucnet.org/news/georgia-power-announces-initial-energisation-of-unit-4-6-3-2021

Reactor could begin commercial operation this year The plant site of the Vogtle-3 AP1000 pressurised water reactor unit as of March 2021. Image courtesy Georgia Power Company. Hot functional testing has begun for the Vogtle-3 nuclear power plant under construction in the US, Georgia Power today announced.

The company also said all modules for the Vogtle-3 and -4 nuclear expansion project have now been set following the lifting into place of a massive water tank atop the Unit 4 containment vessel and shield building roof. The placement represents the last major crane lift at the site.

Hot functional testing marks the last series of major tests underway for the new nuclear unit ahead of initial fuel load. Georgia Power said the testing represents a significant step towards operation of the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor, construction of which began in March 2013.

Hot functional testing – expected to take six to eight weeks – is conducted to verify the operation of reactor components and systems together and confirm the reactor is ready for fuel load. As part of the testing, the site team will begin running Unit 3 plant systems without nuclear fuel and advance through the testing process towards reaching normal operating pressure and temperature.

Date: Wednesday, 28 April 2021
Original article: nucnet.org/news/hot-functional-testing-begins-at-ap1000-nuclear-plant-4-2-2021

Covid-19 pandemic is continuing to affect work at the site, company says The Vogtle-3 construction site in November 2020. Courtesy Georgia Power. Georgia Power is likely to adjust the dates for the start of hot functional testing and fuel load for the Vogtle-3 nuclear power plant under construction in the US, but still expects to achieve the November 2021 and 2022 regulatory-approved in-service dates for Units 3 and 4 respectively.

Since October 2020, the Vogtle site in the state of Georgia has seen a significant increase in Covid-19 cases, Georgia Power said. This increase, combined with “other productivity challenges”, continues to impact construction production and the pace of testing activity completion, it added.

Last year Georgia Power said it expected to begin hot functional testing in January 2021 and fuel loading in April 2021.

Date: Wednesday, 13 January 2021
Original article: nucnet.org/news/georgia-power-likely-to-revise-schedule-for-hot-testing-and-fuel-load-at-unit-3-1-2-2021

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