Georgia Power begins splitting atoms inside one new Vogtle reactor
3/6/2023
Georgia Power began splitting atoms on Monday to produce heat inside one of its two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle, the company said, a key milestone that brings the country’s first new reactors built in more than three decades closer to completion.
In technical terms, the company said Unit 3′s reactor has reached a stage called “initial criticality,” meaning a self-sustaining fission reaction has started inside the unit. Georgia Power said it will continue to conduct tests as operators gradually raise the power to 100 percent, before syncing it with the grid and sending electricity out to Georgia homes and businesses.
