Georgia Power begins fuel load process for Vogtle Unit 4

Georgia Power has begun the process of loading fuel into the Vogtle Unit 4 reactor core at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga.

Loading fuel marks a major milestone toward startup and commercial operation of the second new unit at the Plant Vogtle nuclear power plant. Vogtle Unit 3 – the first newly-constructed nuclear unit in the U.S. in more than 30 years – entered commercial operation on July 31.

During fuel load, nuclear technicians from Westinghouse and operators from Southern Nuclear are scheduled to safely install 157 fuel assemblies into the Unit 4 reactor core in the coming days. This comes after Southern Nuclear received the 103(g) finding from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in July, which signified that the new unit has been constructed and will be operated in conformance NRC regulations.

Southern Nuclear will operate the new units on behalf of the co-owners: Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.

Startup testing will begin next. This phase is designed to demonstrate the integrated operation of the primary coolant system and steam supply system at design temperature and pressure with fuel inside the reactor. Further, operators will bring the plant from cold shutdown to initial criticality, synchronize the unit to the electric grid, and systematically raise power to 100 percent.

Vogtle Unit 4 is projected to be placed in service during late fourth quarter 2023 or the first quarter 2024. Once operating, each of the new units can produce enough electricity to power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses.

The new Vogtle units are an essential part of Georgia Power’s commitment to delivering clean, safe, reliable, and affordable energy to its 2.7 million customers.