Philippsburg nuclear power plant: Block 2 disconnected from grid for annual inspection
Philippsburg. Block 2 of the Philippsburg nuclear power plant (KKP 2) is being disconnected from the grid today (Friday, 11 May 2018) as planned for its annual inspection. During the inspection, testing and maintenance work will be completed, fuel elements replaced and a number of technical projects implemented.
“The safe operation of our nuclear power plants continues to have the highest priority. Therefore, we are continuing to invest without compromise in the high technical standard of our production facilities – as is also the case with this year’s inspection of Block 2 at Philippsburg. We have once again developed a comprehensive programme of activities for the inspection of the power plant in 2018. We are not only making an important contribution to the safety of the power plant as a result but also ensuring the reliable supply of electricity to Baden-Württemberg – for which KKP 2, along with Block II in Neckarwestheim, still plays an important role”, explains Christoph Heil, Managing Director of EnBW Kernkraft GmbH responsible for power plant operations.
“Alongside the electricity producing power plant blocks at the sites in Philippsburg and Neckarwestheim, we also have our sights firmly set on the dismantling of the power plant blocks that have already been shut down at both sites and have been making good progress on this work for around a year. The same is also true for the already advanced dismantling work at the nuclear power plant in Obrigheim. Whether in electricity generation or dismantling work – safety is the number one priority for us”, continues Christoph Heil.
Around 800 additional employees are supporting the extensive inspection work
“This year’s inspection programme for KKP 2 includes numerous individual measures. The around 3,500 individual activities can mostly only be performed when the plant had been shut down”, reports Thomas Franke, Head of the KKP 2 power plant. “Alongside routine work, the planned tasks also include numerous maintenance measures on large-scale components. For example, one of the three main feed water pumps will be inspected, an eddy current inspection will be completed on two of the four steam generators and a leakage test will be carried out on the reactor containment vessel. In addition, the main coolant water system will be inspected and the motors on two of the six main coolant water pumps will be replaced. Regular maintenance work will also be completed on individual emergency power generators.” Around 800 additional experts from manufacturing and specialist companies will support the extensive inspection work.
The inspection will take place under the supervision of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection and the Energy Industry and will be accompanied by auditors from TÜV and KeTAG (Baden-Württemberg Auditors Consortium for Nuclear Technology) appointed by the Ministry.
Block 2 of the Philippsburg nuclear power plant is a pressurised water reactor with an electrical output of 1,468 megawatts. The power plant was commissioned in 1984 and generated around eight billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2017.
Block 2 is operated by EnBW Kernkraft GmbH (EnKK). In Philippsburg and Neckarwestheim, EnKK generates electricity with one nuclear power plant at each location (KKP 2 and GKN II). Power operation at KKP 2 will cease at the latest at the end of 2019 and at GKN II at the latest at the end of 2022. The dismantling of these power plants is then set to commence quickly. The required applications were submitted early by EnBW in July 2016. A further power plant that no longer produces electricity is located at each of the sites (GKN I and KKP 1). The dismantling of both power plants started in 2017. Good progress has been made with the dismantling of the nuclear power plant at the Obrigheim location since 2008.