14 Jun (NucNet): The Olkiluoto-3 EPR unit under construction in Finland is scheduled to begin regular electricity generation in September 2019, nuclear operator Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) said in a statement yesterday.
TVO said it has received from plant supplier Areva-Siemens an updated schedule for the commissioning of the 1,600-MW Generation III+ EPR unit.
In April 2018, TVO said it was waiting for an “overall baseline reschedule” for Olkiluoto-3 from Areva-Siemens and could not say whether the revised timetable would delay the start of regular electricity production planned at the time for May 2019.
TVO completed hot functional testing for Olkiluoto-3 at the end of May 2018. The tests took a little over five months to complete, which was 50 days longer than planned, TVO said.
The company said fuel will be loaded into the reactor core in January 2019, while the unit will be connected to the national grid for the first time in May 2019.
TVO said commissioning tests for Olkiluoto-3 will last longer than planned. A comprehensive modification package will be implemented at the unit over the next few months to update its electrical and instrumentation and control systems, the company said. In addition, the pressuriser surge line vibrations which delayed the hot functional tests will be corrected before fuel loading.
Commissioning tests will resume after the completion of modification works, TVO said.
TVO submitted the operating licence application for Olkiluoto-3 to the Finnish Cabinet of State on 14 April 2016. The unit has been under construction since 2005.
