New Vogtle nuclear reactors in Georgia are on target for 2021, 2022 opening

Georgia Power’s Vogtle 3 & 4 nuclear expansion projects are on target to be opened within the next few years.

Vogtle 3 reactor will be completed in November 2021, while Vogtle 4 reactor will be operational in November 2022, according to filings by the company with the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC). The company also said it expects the project will remain within the current cost forecast.

Currently, the expansion, located in Waynesboro, Ga., is approximately 79 percent complete. To date, crews have set all four reactor coolant pumps inside the Unit 3 containment vessel and set the Unit 3 containment vessel top head. Also, the Unit 3 initial energization and integrated flush process is underway.

At Unit 4, the placement of both accumulator tanks, both steam generators and the pressurizer inside Unit 4 containment have been completed. There are approximately 8,000 workers on-site during construction with more than 800 permanent jobs available once the units begin operating.

Georgia Power, which is owned by the Southern Company, has released a new video of the nation’s only new nuclear units currently under construction. The video shows the removal of 4 million cubic yards of soil, concrete placements, and other milestones throughout the project’s history. When finished, it will be the largest nuclear power plant in the U.S. Once completed, units 3 & 4 will generate enough electricity to power approximately 500,000 homes and businesses.