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Southern Co's long-delayed Vogtle system 4 nuclear reactor goes into commercial operations

Southern Co's Vogtle unit 4 nuclear reactor has gone into business operation after years of running behind schedule, the utility company's Georgia unit said on Monday.

The Vogtle two-unit growth task near Waynesboro, Georgia has actually been hailed as a major turning point for the U.S. nuclear power industry as they are the country's very first large-scale nuclear reactors in decades. Vogtle system 3 had gone into commercial operation in July 2023.

WHY IT is very important

U.S. power consumption is expected to increase to tape highs in 2024 and 2025, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration, driven by increasing need from synthetic intelligence data centers and electric vehicle use.

U.S. President Joe Biden has an objective to achieve net-zero emissions by 2035 in the power sector, the source of a quarter of the country's emissions.

CONTEXT

The COP28 environmental conference at the end of last year aimed to triple nuclear power generation by 2050 compared to the present capacity as it is considered as an essential tool to reach net-zero goals.

With all four systems now in operation, Vogtle plant is the biggest generator of tidy energy in the U.S., according to the company.

BY THE NUMBERS

When Georgia approved the Vogtle expansion in 2009, the two reactors were anticipated to cost about $14 billion and get in service in 2016 and 2017. Nevertheless, in addition to the hold-ups, the costs have actually swollen to $30 billion.

The unit 4 can produce sufficient electrical energy to power an approximated 500,000 homes and services and will offer emissions-free energy to customers for a minimum of 60 to 80 years, the company said.

KEY QUOTE

The new Vogtle systems are a key piece of our method to fulfill the energy needs of our clients not only tomorrow, however 20 years from now, stated Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene.