3 Jul (NucNet): Unit 1 of the Sanmen nuclear power station in eastern China has been connected to the grid, making it the first AP1000 to achieve grid connection and power generation, plant supplier Westinghouse said in a statement on 30 June 2018.
Sanmen-1 was connected to the grid for the first time at 16.48 on 30 June, Westinghouse and its Chinese customers China State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation and China National Nuclear Corporation said.
The plant’s turbine generator is now initially connected to the electrical grid and has begun generating electricity, Westinghouse said.
Sanmen-1, a Generation III+ nuclear plant, is scheduled to enter commercial operation by the end of this year.
The plant is capable of generating 1,117 MW of electricity when at full power. It is the first of a fleet of four new AP1000 plants in eastern China and will provide energy for the next 60-plus years.
Westinghouse has six AP1000 nuclear plants progressing through construction, testing and start-up.
These projects include two units in Sanmen, in Zhejiang Province, two units in Haiyang, in Shandong Province, northeast China, and two units under construction at the Vogtle nuclear site in the US state of Georgia.
Westinghouse is providing the design, critical equipment, training and testing for each of the six AP1000 units.
The unit will now undergo gradual power ascension testing until all testing is completed at 100% power.
