The plant operator has also set aside additional time for testing and analysis based on experience from the pilot production phase.
The trial run is currently being completed in December instead of September. When the reactor starts to generate electricity on a regular basis, it will be able to satisfy about 14 percent of Finland’s total electricity needs.
The expansion of the plant was originally scheduled to be completed in 2009.
Jukka LeskeläCEO of Suomen Energia on Wednesday told me According to YLE, the reactor is important for the nationwide electricity supply, especially after the import of electricity from Russia ends.
“It would be important to get the unit up and running in the winter,” he said. “It is hoped that the announced timetable will remain. I think we will find out about the autumn, but our situation is getting worse. If there are other major shortcomings in the system, be it for electricity import or electricity generation units, we are in a difficult situation.
He added that any delays in the project could also lead to a power shortage.
“If the winter is hard, prices are very high and there may even be challenges in terms of electricity adequacy,” Leskelä comments. “The delay isn’t particularly significant given the length of the project, so in that sense, the impact isn’t huge. But now that we are at a stage of high energy prices, it would have been desirable for the plant to be operational as soon as possible.
The Olkiluoto nuclear power plant, he reminded, will generate significant amounts of electricity during the ongoing test phase in July.
“The situation is not comparable to a situation where the plant did not even exist. Production simply varies according to the test operating cycle. Sometimes the plant produces electricity, sometimes it does not.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT
Source: The Nordic Page