Vogtle News

On July 31, Plant Vogtle Unit 3 entered commercial service, adding 250 MW of emissions-free generation capacity to MEAG Power’s portfolio, an equivalent amount to power an estimated 113,500 homes and businesses. Vogtle Unit 3 is the first newly constructed nuclear unit to enter service in the U.S. in more than 30 years.

“Vogtle Unit 3 entering commercial service is a monumental achievement that reflects the tremendous hard work, dedication and perseverance of thousands of workers on-site, as well as all the current and past employees of MEAG Power and the Unit’s other co-owners, MEAG Power Board members and the countless utility and city government employees of the 49 Participant communities we serve across Georgia,” said MEAG Power President & CEO Jim Fuller.

“Bringing Vogtle Unit 3 to commercial operation – and continuing the work on Unit 4 toward an in-service date early next year – highlights MEAG Power’s commitment to serving the needs of our Participant communities,” Fuller continued. “Vogtle Units 3 & 4 will provide up to 500 MW of clean energy to our Participant communities for the next 60 to 80 years – providing critical non-emitting power to present and future generations.”

Since entering service on July 31, Unit 3 has operated at 100% power, and by year-end will have surpassed 3 million net MWh of generation for the state.

Unit 4 Update

Unit 4 had achieved Mode 4 on Sept. 21 and Mode 3 on Sept. 25, and the turbine had been placed on turning gear. On Sept. 28, the 2A reactor coolant pump (RCP) tripped off-line. An investigation determined the cause to be a fault in the RCP motor. A spare RCP at the site was put into service to replace the failed RCP.

The replacement required the pump assembly being lifted out on a path (red dashed line in graphic above; photos showing actual pump removal) up containment, alongside the steam generator. This process required the removal and replacement of approximately 550 interferences in that path. Staff with experience in pump replacement in China were on-site for the removal and replacement, which was completed in November – after which the interferences had to be replaced.

At this point, start-up and power ascension testing continued. While the pump replacement work was ongoing, start-up activities for the turbine systems continued.

Unit 4 COD is projected for the first quarter of 2024.