Byron Nuclear Generating station taken offline for transformer upgrade and refuelling
Illinois’ Byron Generating Station’s Unit 2 nuclear reactor has been taken offline for a scheduled refuelling and maintenance outage.
As well as replacing around a third of the reactor’s fuel, the station will continue a multi-million-dollar transformer upgrade project by replacing two main step-up power transformers. The plant’s overall reliability will be increased as a result of this upgrade.
Byron’s Unit 1 reactor will continue to supply carbon-free electricity to customers during the Unit 2 outage. With both units at full power, the site produces almost 2,500 megawatts, enough electricity to power more than 2 million average American homes. Exelon Generation’s nuclear units in Illinois produce half of the state’s electricity and more than 90 percent of its carbon-free power.
The unit has powered more than 1 million homes and businesses every day since its last planned outage in October of 2017.
More than 1,300 supplemental workers will join 800 Exelon Generation employees in preparing the facility for another 18-month run.
“Nearly 13,000 consecutive hours online speaks to the reliability of our nuclear plant and the important work we do to provide clean energy to the region,” said Site Vice President Mark Kanavos. “Byron Station is proud to contribute to Illinois’ clean energy future, while also powering our schools, hospitals and senior centers around the clock.”
Source: Ogle County Life
Photo (for illustrative purposes): Byron Nuclear Generating Station 2 / Bill Tracey / Wikimedia / CC BY 2.0
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