BIRMINGHAM, Ala., March 6, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, March 4, at 11:29
a.m. ET, operators at the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant
safely returned Unit 1 to service following a planned refueling and
maintenance outage that began Feb. 4
at 9:28 p.m. ET.
During the outage, in collaboration with Global Nuclear Fuel,
Plant Hatch installed accident tolerant fuel test assemblies
developed by the U.S. Department of Energy. This technology has
industry-changing safety and efficiency advantages and is the first
of its kind to be installed in a commercial nuclear reactor.
"We were thrilled to install the new test assemblies at Plant
Hatch," said John Williams, Southern
Nuclear nuclear fuel director. "Our top priority is the safety and
health of the public and our employees, and this game-changing
technology will make plants even safer, resulting in more
flexibility in our operations. This is not a small step, but a leap
for our industry."
The last refueling outage for Unit 1 was completed in spring
2016. Each unit at Plant Hatch requires new fuel every 24 months.
In addition to refueling the reactor and performing regular
maintenance and testing, workers made upgrades to plant systems and
components.
Plant Hatch Unit 2 continued to safely generate electricity
while Unit 1 was offline and refueling.
"I'm proud of the work we accomplished during this outage and
the advancements we made to Unit 1, and I commend our team for
their focus on working safely and efficiently," said Plant Hatch
Vice President David Vineyard. "The
work we perform during our outages is a significant investment in
our facility. Unit 1 is positioned not just for the next 24 months,
but for years of continued safe and reliable electricity
production."
Employees from across the Southern Nuclear fleet assisted Plant
Hatch's staff of more than 900 in the refueling effort. More than
800 additional workers from General Electric, Day and Zimmerman,
and other partners were on site performing specialized tasks. This
supplemental workforce provides economic stimulus to surrounding
communities during the planning stages and throughout the outage.
Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, operates Plant
Hatch on behalf of Georgia Power and co-owners Oglethorpe Power,
MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities.
For more information about the accident tolerant fuel test
assembly load, read the news release issued by Global Nuclear
Fuel.
About Southern Nuclear:
Southern Nuclear, a
subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the
nation's nuclear energy facility operators and an innovator in
advanced nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential
part of Southern Company's energy portfolio, and its importance
will continue to grow as America transitions to a low-carbon energy
future. While the company produces clean, safe and reliable nuclear
energy, it's also an economic engine powered by quality jobs and
community service. Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units
for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear
Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin
I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley,
Ga.; and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near
Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear
is the licensee of two new nuclear units currently under
construction at Plant Vogtle that are the first nuclear units being
constructed in the United States
in more than 30 years. In 2017, Southern Nuclear won a Technology
Transfer award from the Electric Power Research Institute, an Honor
Roll award for superior performance in the global boiling water
reactor fleet from GE/Hitachi, and the Drivers of Success Award
from GT STRUDL. The company's headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala. Twitter: @SouthernNuclear;
Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southernnuclear.com
About Southern Company:
Southern Company (NYSE: SO)
is America's premier energy company, with 44,000 MW of generating
capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas
consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million electric and
gas utility customers through its subsidiaries. The company
provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through
electric utilities in four states, natural gas distribution
utilities in seven states, a competitive generation company serving
wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized
provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics
and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for
excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices
that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading
commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are
inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio
of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century
coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating
new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern
Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I.
Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top
50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black
Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity
and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network.
The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and
History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its
leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually
ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most
Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at
www.southerncompany.com.
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SOURCE Southern Nuclear