Taishan-I connected to grid

摘要

Unit 1 of China's Taishan nuclear power plant, now the lead EPR project in the world, was connected to the grid on June 29 at 5:59 local time. Construction of the reactor began in 2009, with that of its sister plant, Taishan-2, starting in 2010. These two units were, respectively, the third and fourth EPR reactors to start construction (Olkiluoto-3 in Finland and Flamanville-3 in France were the first two, with construction beginning in 2005 and 2007, respectively). On April 10, following the completion of preparatory work and testing, China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment gave permission to load fuel in Unit 1, which commenced that same day, and first criticality was achieved on June 6. Following grid connection, the reactor started a period of power-raising and associated testing, which will culminate in steady-state operation at full power.