Spanish nuclear plants undergo preventive maintenance

subscribe

Maintenance outages have put 5,871 megawatts (MW) of nuclear capacity offline in Spain. The 1,028-MW Asco I, 2,729-MW Almaraz II and 1,087-MW Vandellos II nuclear power plants are offline for refueling and preventive maintenance.

On May 26, the 1,027-MW Asco II plant was forced offline after possible damage was discovered on safety valves. After a 36-hour maintenance outage, the plant was reconnected to the grid.

The valves were reported to be working properly.

In March, the Vandellos II plant was taken offline for its 16th annual outage. In addition to the regular tasks performed during refueling maintenance, a new refrigeration system will be installed and a weld overlay examination will be performed. Once finished, the station will start an 18-month operating cycle. The plant is operated by Asociacion Nuclear Asco-Vandellos and owned by Spanish power companies Endesa (72%) and Iberdrola (28%). The plant was inaugurated in March 1988 and is equipped with a pressurized water reactor supplied by Westinghouse Corporation.

Spain has five other nuclear power stations in operation: the 1,381-MW Santa Maria de Garona, 3,031-MW Trillo, 3,237-MW Confrentes, 1,027-MW Asco II and 2,729-MW Almaraz.

The Asco II plant began operation in March 1986 and is equipped with a pressurized water reactor supplied by Westinghouse and three Siemens AG steam generators. In February 2009, the plant was taken offline for refueling and preventive maintenance. The next scheduled outage is expected to take place in August 2010.

Related News

clock

Renewable growth drives common goals for electricity networks across the globe

LONDON - Electricity networks globally are experiencing significant increases in the volume of renewable capacity as countries seek to decarbonise their power sectors without impacting the security of supply. The scale of this change is creating new challenges for power networks and those responsible for keeping the lights on.

The latest insight paper from Cornwall Insight – Market design amidst global energy transition – looks into this issue. It examines the outlook for transmission networks, and how legacy design and policies are supporting decarbonisation and shaping the system. The paper focuses on three key markets; Australia, Ireland and Great Britain (GB).

Australia's…

READ MORE
seattle-city-light-initiative-helps-customers-reduce-electricity-bills

Seattle City Light's Initiative Helps Over 93,000 Customers Reduce Electricity Bills

READ MORE

a-new-electric-boat-club-launches-in-seattle

A New Electric Boat Club Launches in Seattle

READ MORE

tokyo electricity

Analysis: Out in the cold: how Japan's electricity grid came close to blackouts

READ MORE

global coal output

Global use of coal-fired electricity set for biggest fall this year

READ MORE