Neckarwestheim Nuclear Power Station: Block II Back on the Grid after Revision

Karlsruhe. Block II of the Neckarwestheim nuclear power station (GKN II) has been back on the grid since yesterday afternoon (1 November 2010) after the annual revision. Testing and servicing work has been carried out in the past weeks, technical projects have been implemented and fuel elements have been replaced. During the revision, more than 1500 additional employees from manufacturing and specialised companies have supported the nuclear power station's revision crew. The whole team managed to complete more than 3500 individual tasks.

"The replacement of the approximately 380 tonne centre piece of the generator stator in the power station's engine room was an outstanding technical project", reports Gerd-Josef Engel, Manager of Block II. "Other projects were eddy current testing on U-pipes in two of the four steam generators and internal tests on another steam generator. In addition, we have performed a general overhaul on one of the three feed-water pumps and on the main condensate pumps and main cooling water pumps, as well as one of the four main coolant pumps."

The revision took place under the supervision of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Transport and was accompanied by auditors from TÜV and KeTAG (Baden-Württemberg auditors consortium for nuclear technology) on behalf of the Ministry. After approval of the work, the Ministry agreed to the facility being restarted. The supervisory authorities were notified of a reportable incident of the lowest report category during the revision. The incident did not have any impacts on the safety of the facility, personnel and the environment.

Block II of the Neckarwestheim nuclear power station is a pressurised water reactor with an electrical output of 1400 megawatts. The facility went into operation in 1989 and produced more than 11.5 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in the year 2009. Block II is operated by EnBW Kernkraft GmbH (EnKK). EnKK operates the nuclear power stations in Neckarwestheim and Philippsburg as well as the nuclear power station in Obrigheim which is currently being removed from service. Statistics show that the Neckarwestheim and Philippsburg sites produce around half the electricity required in Baden-Württemberg.