Technicians begin loading nuclear fuel into new US Vogtle 4 unit

The new US nuclear unit Vogtle 4 has reached another milestone, as workers began loading nuclear fuel into its reactor. After loading more than 150 fuel assemblies, the operator will begin startup tests culminating in the reactor reaching criticality. The AP1000 unit is expected to enter commercial operation toward the end of this year or early next year, after roughly ten years of construction.

The US company Georgia Power announced that its workers had begun loading nuclear fuel into Vogtle 4. During the process, technicians will move a total of 157 fuel assemblies into the reactor core. The AP1000 nuclear unit at Vogtle 4 has an installed capacity of 1250 MW (gross) and is expected to enter commercial operation toward the end of this year or early next year.

"Fuel loading at Unit 4 is beginning after Southern Nuclear received a 103(g) determination from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in July. This means the new unit was built and will be operated in accordance with its NRC licence and regulations," Georgia Power said in a press release.

Before entering service, the new unit will undergo tests demonstrating the integrated operation of the primary circuit and steam supply at the design temperature and pressure, with fuel inside the reactor. Operators will also bring the unit from cold shutdown to criticality for the first time. They will then synchronise the unit with the grid and increase its output to 100%.

New US nuclear units

Westinghouse began construction of two new nuclear units in the US state of Georgia in 2013. This was the first new nuclear construction to start in the US in more than 30 years. Vogtle 3 successfully entered commercial operation at the end of July this year.

The project was hit by problems in 2017, followed by the restructuring of Westinghouse, after which it was taken over by subsidiaries of Southern Company (Georgia Power and Southern Nuclear). Besides Southern Company, which owns 45.7%, the other owners are Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.