The IHP stands more than 15m tall, weighs 215,000 kg and contains almost 5km of electrical cables. It is an integral component that will eventually be used by highly-trained nuclear operators to monitor and control the nuclear reaction that will occur inside the Vogtle-3 reactor vessel.
These operators are currently monitoring and controlling the technology and equipment essential for testing the unit’s systems and safely starting the plant.
Georgia Power said the milestone brings workers another step closer to loading nuclear fuel inside the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor.
The company said earlier this month that “significant progress” is being made at the site with the project now 85% complete, and direct construction of Unit 3 now 90% complete. Milestones achieved in recent weeks include the placement of the Unit 4 polar crane and containment vessel top, signifying that all major lifts inside the containment vessels for both units are now complete.
In April, Georgia Power’s parent company, Southern Company, said the workforce at the Vogtle project was being reduced by about 20% to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The company said the schedule remains unchanged with in-service dates of November 2021 for Unit 3 and November 2022 for Unit 4.
The project to build two new units at Vogtle began in 2009. The two plants are the only two commercial reactor units under construction in the US.
