Second AP1000 connected to the network
Unit 2 of the Sanmen nuclear power plant in China's Zhejiang province has been connected to the electricity grid and has begun supplying power.
Sanmen 1 became the world's first AP1000 to start up, achieving first critically –a sustained chain reaction- on 22 June and grid connection on 2 July
Sanmen 2 was connected to the grid on August 24th at 5:22pm, China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation announced.
According to World Nuclear News, the unit will now undergo gradual power ascension testing until all testing is safely and successfully completed at 100% power. CNNC will seek approval for commercial operation of the unit when all these tests are finished.
In September 2007, Westinghouse and its partner the Shaw Group were allowed to construct four AP1000 units in China: two at Sanmen and two more at Haiyang in Shandong province. Construction of Sanmen 1 began in April 2009, while first concrete for Sanmen 2 was poured in December of the same year. Construction of Haiyang 1 and 2 began in September 2009 and June 2010, respectively.
Sanmen 1 became the world's first AP1000 to start up, achieving first critically –a sustained chain reaction- on 22 June and grid connection on 2 July. It reached full power operation for the first time on 14 August. Sanmen 2 attained first criticality on 17 August.
Unit 1 of the Haiyang plant attained first criticality on 8 August and was grid connected on 17 August. Haiyang 2 is expected to start up in 2019.
Four AP1000 reactors were also being built in the USA –two each at Vogtle and Summer. However, construction of the two Summer units was cancelled last August. Vogtle 3 and 4 are scheduled to start operating in November 2021 and November 2022, respectively.
