EnBW: Nuclear power plant Neckarwestheim - Block II is back on the grid after the end of the short shutdown
Contify Energy News
Block II of the Neckarwestheim nuclear power plant (GKN II) is back on the grid since January 19, 2023. EnBW shut down the plant for a short shutdown on December 31, 2022 in order to adjust it to an extended electricity production. New fuel elements were no longer available and could therefore not be used. The federal government had initiated the extended operation to ensure the power supply in Germany. Key Highlights: * The reactor can produce longer electricity – with a total of up to 1.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity until April 15, 2023. * The EnBW team carried out a total of over 500 individual activities during the plant shutdown and was supported by around 200 additional specialists from manufacturers and specialist companies. Original Press Release: Neckarwestheim, Jan. 19 -- EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG issued the following news release: Block II of the Neckarwestheim nuclear power plant (GKN II) is back on the grid and has been supplying electricity again since the early morning hours of this day (January 19, 2023). EnBW shut down the plant for a short shutdown on December 31, 2022 in order to adjust it to an extended electricity production until April 15, 2023. EnBW has now successfully completed this work. The federal government had initiated the extended operation to ensure the power supply in Germany. A corresponding change in the law came into force in December and enables the last three operating German nuclear power plants – including GKN II – to produce electricity until mid-April. Originally, they should have been switched off at the end of last year at the latest. Additional production of up to 1.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity The focal point of the brief shutdown of GKN II was the so-called reconfiguration of the reactor core. The fuel elements already present in the plant were rearranged in the reactor pressure vessel so that the reactor can produce longer electricity – with a total of up to 1.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity until April 15, 2023. New fuel elements were no longer available and could therefore not be used. As is usual with previous revisions, the short standstill took place under the supervision of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Sector and was accompanied by experts from TÜV on behalf of the Ministry. The EnBW team carried out a total of over 500 individual activities during the plant shutdown and was supported by around 200 additional specialists from manufacturers and specialist companies. "GKN II makes an important contribution to security of supply" “Our actions are determined by the responsibility for the safety of the plant and for the secure energy supply in Germany. We keep our word and support the federal government in its efforts in this area in the current crisis situation. GKN II can and will make an important contribution to this,” says Jörg Michels, Managing Director of the EnBW nuclear power division. “At the same time, we remain committed to phasing out nuclear power. Block II in Neckarwestheim has been part of our master plan for deconstruction for a long time. The dismantling of our other four nuclear power plants has been running successfully for years and will also start there after the shutdown of GKN II.” GKN II is a pressurized water reactor with an electrical output of 1,400 megawatts and is operated by EnBW Kernkraft GmbH. The plant went into operation in 1989 and produced almost eleven billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2022. The other block at the Neckarwestheim site - GKN I - has been shut down for good since 2011 and has been dismantled since 2017. Disclaimer: The Above Content is Auto-Translated Source: EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG [Category: Energy]