The operator of the Finnish EPR has just announced the discovery of a technical problem which required the reactor to be shut down.
EPR technology has a long history of struggles and delays, which had finally recorded an important victory with the inauguration of the Finnish reactor, built in partnership by Siemens and Areva. Enough to create hope for the same equipment, under development in Flamanville, in Manche. Unfortunately, this EPR reactor known as Olkiluoto 3 had to be shut down after a problem was detected.
A fault has been detected in the turbine island
The Olkiluoto 3 reactor is being scrutinized by all those who still rely on EPR technology to provide our energy in the future. Suffice it to say that when its operator TVO announced that it had to stop it, concerns very quickly came to the surface.
“ Electricity production from OL3 was interrupted on Sunday evening, November 19 due to a fault detected in the turbine island » first explained the company on its X account. Later, TVO was able to communicate the details of the problem, which would come from a “ malfunction of temperature measurement in the generator cooling system. »
An important reactor for Finland
For TVO, the Olkiluoto 3 reactor should be able to be put back into service quickly. A diligence which can be understood by the disproportionate importance of the installation in Finland’s energy production. Because this reactor with a power of 1600 megawatts alone can produce 14% of the electricity consumed in the Scandinavian country. All three reactors of the plant provide 30% of national production.
The Olkiluoto 3 EPR reactor, like the other Taishan and Flamanville projects, experienced significant delays (more than a decade in the case of the Finnish installation). So, there is no doubt that the authorities will continue to scrutinize its operation in the coming months.
Source : Boursorama
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