Investments in nuclear power

Olkiluoto 3

The civil construction works at the OL3 nuclear power plant unit currently under construction in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki, are, for the most part, completed. Several major components, such as the reactor pressure vessel, the pressurizer and three steam generators, were installed in 2010. The manufacture of the remaining components was in its final stage, and installation and pipeline welding works continued at the reactor plant. The number of personnel at the construction site at the end of 2010 was slightly over 4,000. The safety level at the site remained good.

The OL3 plant supplier has informed TVO that the major part of the work will be completed in 2012. According to the plant supplier, commissioning will take about eight months, and operation will start during the latter half of 2013.

Olkiluoto 4

On 1 July 2010, the Finnish Parliament approved the favourable decision-in-principle made by the Finnish Government on 6 May 2010 regarding the construction of OL4 in Olkiluoto.

Preparation of the tender material for the OL4 project, project planning, verification of licensing practices, and assessment of implementation alternatives continued. Recruitment to increase the personnel resources for the project was initiated in late 2010. The ground surveys begun at the plant site.

The planned electricity generation capacity of the new plant unit is between 1,400 and 1,800 MW, and the maximum heat generation capacity is 4,600 MW. The reactor type may be either a boiling water reactor or a pressurized water reactor.

A capacity increase at Olkiluoto 1

In 2010, unit 1 at Olkiluoto nuclear power plant had the most extensive annual maintenance in the history of the plant. Thanks to the improvements made during the annual maintenance, the efficiency of the turbine island improved and the unit’s overall electricity generation capacity increased. At the beginning of July, the nominal net electricity generation capacity of OL1 was stepped up from 860 MW to 880 MW.

At Olkiluoto 2, similar major improvements, plus replacement of a generator, will take place in May-June 2011.