Plant Vogtle Unit 4 connects to electric grid for the first time, says Georgia Power

Georgia Power announced on Friday that Unit 4 at Plant Vogtle is generating electricity, successfully synchronizing and connecting to the electric grid for the first time.

This step follows initial criticality, reached on Feb. 14, when operators started the nuclear reaction inside the reactor, generating nuclear heat to produce steam, noted a news release.

Connecting to the electric grid is part of the ongoing startup testing for Vogtle Unit 4, according to Georgia Power. Operators will continue to raise reactor power for generation of electricity while performing tests at various power levels, ultimately raising power to 100%.

Plant Vogtle Unit 3: Plant Vogtle Unit 4 reactor reaches initial criticality in start up testing, says Georgia Power

Once all startup testing is successfully completed and the unit is available for reliable dispatch, Vogtle Unit 4 will enter commercial operation, noted Georgia Power

Plant Vogtle Unit 3 entered commercial operation on July 31, 2023, and is providing safe, reliable, emission-free energy to Georgia customers, according to a news release.  The in-service date for Unit 4 is projected during the second quarter of 2024.

Nuclear energy currently provides about 25% of Georgia Power’s overall energy mix, including the existing units at Plant Vogtle and Georgia’s other nuclear facility at Plant Hatch in Baxley.

The expansion project to add Units 3 and 4 was first authorized in 2009 and has been hit with multiple delays and cost overruns since. The initial plan was to bring Unit 3 online in 2016 and Unit 4 the year after. Unit 3 began producing electricity in April. The project has cost more than double the projected $14 billion.

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Erica Van Buren is the climate change reporter for The Augusta Chronicle, part of the USA TODAY Network. Connect with her at EVanBuren@gannett.com or on X: @EricaVanBuren32.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Georgia Power announces Plant Vogtle Unit 4 is generating electricity