Georgia Power announces successful nuclear fission in Plant Vogtle’s Unit 4
Atlanta-based Southern Co. reported on Wednesday that a significant milestone has been achieved at the Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia. The company confirmed that operators have successfully initiated self-sustaining nuclear fission inside the second of the two new reactors, marking a crucial step towards producing carbon-free electricity.
Commercial Operation Delayed to Second Quarter of 2024
The utility anticipates that Plant Vogtle’s Unit 4 will commence commercial operations sometime between April 1 and June 30, 2024. This timeline has been adjusted from an initial deadline of March 30 due to vibrations detected in a cooling system. The utility is currently conducting startup testing to ensure the reactor’s systems can function effectively at the extreme heat and pressure levels within a nuclear reactor.
Georgia Power’s Plan for Unit 4
Operators are set to incrementally increase power levels, synchronize the generator with the electric grid, and begin electricity production. Subsequently, efforts will be made to gradually ramp up the reactor’s power output to reach 100%. Unit 3 at Plant Vogtle began commercial operations last summer, joining the existing reactors at the site.
Costs and Ownership Details
Regulators recently approved a 6% rate hike for Georgia Power’s 2.7 million customers to cover the remaining $7.56 billion in expenses at Vogtle. This increase is estimated to cost the average residential customer an additional $8.95 per month. Including the $5.42 increase implemented when Unit 3 commenced operations, the total cost for customers has risen.
The total projected cost for the new Vogtle reactors stands at approximately $31 billion for Georgia Power and its partners. This figure includes the $3.7 billion settlement that original contractor Westinghouse paid to the project owners. Originally budgeted at $14 billion with a completion target of 2017, the reactors have encountered significant cost overruns and delays.
Environmental Impact and Future Prospects
The Vogtle reactors represent the first new American nuclear reactors constructed in several decades. Each reactor has the capacity to supply power to 500,000 residences and businesses while producing zero carbon emissions. Despite the appeal of nuclear power in combating climate change, the substantial costs associated with the Vogtle project may deter other utilities from pursuing similar ventures.
Georgia Power retains a 45.7% stake in the reactors, with smaller shares held by Oglethorpe Power Corp., the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, and the city of Dalton. Several utilities in Florida and Alabama have also secured agreements to purchase electricity generated by the Vogtle plant.