Crews building two new reactors at Plant Vogtle recently completed their heaviest lift to date, placing the 1,100-ton CA20 module into unit 3's nuclear island.
The module contains entire rooms pre-built with wiring, plumbing and paint to reduce labor costs, according to Westinghouse, which designed the AP1000 reactors. The structure stands roughly five stories tall and is made from steel plates that will later be filled with concrete.
Southern Co. reported Monday that the site used its 560-foot-tall heavy lift derrick to position the CA20. It will eventually house several plant components, including storage for spent fuel. Overall, the project near Augusta, Ga., is progressing on time and on schedule, according to a report recently filed with Georgia regulators. At its peak, construction activity at Vogtle units 3 and 4 is expected to employ about 5,000 people.