No other nuclear power plant has achieved five breaker-to-breaker production runs in the five decades
– By April Murelio –
The South Texas Project established a U.S. nuclear power industry record Wednesday, by operating a unit continuously between refuelings for a fifth consecutive time. The plant shut down its Unit 1 reactor late last week for refueling and maintenance.
No other nuclear power plant has achieved five breaker-to-breaker production runs in the five decades since the first commercial reactor in the U.S. began operations in 1958.
“This exceptional accomplishment is due to our team’s continual commitment to safety and operational excellence as our highest priority,” said Ed Halpin, Executive Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer. “The outstanding performance of our employees – day-in and day-out — is the reason we consistently perform at an industry-leading level.“
The two-unit facility – one of the nation’s largest — has produced more energy than any other nuclear plant in the country the past five years. Both STP units have led the nation in production, and Unit 1 led all 439 reactors worldwide in electric generation in 2007.
The plant is also a consistent leader in safety. STP has operated more than two years without an accident among its 1,200-member workforce. It has a Total Safety Industrial Accident rate of 0.0, which places the company in the top 10 percent of all U.S. nuclear plants in terms of personal safety.
The facility has earned more honors than any other U.S. nuclear power plant. It is the only repeat-winner of the industry’s top honor, the B. Ralph Sylvia Best of The Best Award, which STP has won three times. The plant additionally has won seven of the annual Top Industry Practice (TIP) awards, two Utility Achievement Awards, and a Project of the Year Award for Best Nuclear Project worldwide.
Unit 1 operated continuously from April 2005 to October 2006, when it was shut down for refueling; from November 2006 to March 2008, when it was refueled again; and from April 2008 until yesterday. Unit 2 was continually online from October 2005 to March 2007, and again from April 2007 until October 2008.
The facility will not have a sixth consecutive breaker-to-breaker production run, however. Unit 2 was temporarily taken offline Sept. 16 to replace equipment in its steam condenser unit.
“Our focus always is safety over production,” Halpin said. “We took the unit offline to make repairs that have improved both equipment reliability and the condition of the plant.” Unit 2 was back in service and operating at full power Sept. 29.
STP supplies approximately 7.5 percent of the electricity used in Texas. The plant is managed by the STP Nuclear Operating Company and owned by Austin Energy, CPS Energy and NRG Texas. STP’s twin reactors produce 2,700 megawatts of electricity, enough for nearly two million homes.