Annual outages start at Olkiluoto nuclear power plant
24.4.2017
Annual outages have started at TVO's nuclear power plant. The Olkiluoto 1 plant unit was disconnected from electricity production on Sunday, 23 April, for a refuelling outage. The annual outage of Olkiluoto 2 will start on Wednesday, 10 May.
The outage at OL2 is longer this year; a maintenance outage that will take about 40 days. Major works include replacement of the recirculation pumps and their frequency converters, renewal of the neutron flux calibration system as well as modernisation of the heating system that contributes to residual heat removal. The tube bundles and ejectors of the turbine condenser are also to be replaced. The annual outage at OL2 is planned to be completed by Monday, 19 June.
This year up to 1,100 contractor employees will take part in the annual outage works, in addition to TVO's own personnel.
The refuelling and maintenance outages carried out at the plant units on alternating years are designed to ensure that a good level of operability and production is maintained at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant at all times. Preparations for the annual outage are started well in advance, as the desired end result can only be achieved through careful planning.
- We especially emphasise the highlighting of safety issues. It would not be possible to carry out the annual outages according to plans without a correct attitude and professional pride, says Mikko Kosonen, Senior Vice President, Electricity Production.
The OL1 and OL2 plant units play an important part in the base load production and implementation of the national energy and climate strategy in Finland. The plant units have been producing electricity for almost 40 years. Today, the electricity produced at the plant units accounts for about 17 percent of the Finnish electricity consumption and about 22 percent of the electricity produced in Finland.
For more information, please contact:
Mikko Kosonen, Senior Vice President, Electricity Production,
Tel. + 358 2 8381 2100.
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