Annual outages reach completion in Olkiluoto
The annual outages of 2019 reached completion on Tuesday, 11 June, at 10.46 p.m. when the Olkiluoto 1 plant unit (OL1) was re-connected to electricity production. This year OL1 underwent a refuelling outage while more extensive maintenance work was carried out at the Olkiluoto 2 plant unit (OL2). The total duration of the annual outages was about six weeks.
The start of the annual outage was brought forward by four days at the OL2 plant unit due to damaged fuel assemblies. The most significant activities conducted during the maintenance outage, in addition to refuelling, included e.g. a pressure test in the primary circuit, replacement of a heat exchanger in the reactor water purification system, and renewal of the 400 kV switchgear. The damaged fuel assemblies were removed from the reactor and replaced with new assemblies.
The annual outage carried out at OL1 consisted of refuelling and maintenance work scheduled to be carried out on an annual basis. The refuelling outage started on 1 June and ended on 11 June.
Several hundreds of employees of TVO’s cooperation partners took part in the performance of the annual outage works, in addition to TVO’s own personnel.
- The annual outages went well. The pressure test of the primary circuit conducted at the OL2 plant unit was a new outage activity, and succeeded with excellent results. The regulatory authority was also pleased with the outcome of the test, says Plant Manager Nina Paaso who is in charge of the OL1 and OL2 plant units.
Olkiluoto nuclear power plant has over the years been modernised through extensive modernisation projects in connection with the annually alternating refuelling and maintenance outages. The maintenance and replacement schedules specified for each piece of equipment and component are followed closely in the annual outage. Thorough pre-planning ensures the safety of electricity production and the high availability of the plant units.
For further information, please contact:
Nina Paaso, Plant Manager for OL1 and OL2 plant units, tel. +358 2 8381 2700
Teollisuuden Voima Oyj has produced electricity for its shareholders, Finnish industrial and energy companies, safely and reliably for 40 years. Nuclear electricity generated at TVO's Olkiluoto plant covers approximately one sixth, increasing to nearly one third once Olkiluoto 3 is completed, of the electricity consumption in Finland. Climate-friendly nuclear electricity not only benefits society but also reduces the environmental impact of energy production. Moreover, the world's first final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel is under construction in Olkiluoto.