Plant Farley Unit 2 begins refueling activities and performance enhancements
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – On April 8 at 7:56 a.m. CT, operators at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant safely took Unit 2 offline for a planned refueling and maintenance outage. Unit 2 completed a 508-day breaker-to-breaker run, remaining online for nearly 18 months of continuous operation.
“We would not have achieved this level of operational success without the commitment of our Plant Farley team in maintaining excellent performance in outage planning, operational focus and equipment reliability,” said Site Vice President Charles Kharrl. “Our entire team is focused and prepared to once again position Unit 2 for a superior level of safety and reliability, not just for the next 18 months, but for many years to come.”
Each unit at Plant Farley requires new fuel every 18 months. The most recent refueling outage for Unit 2 was completed during fall of 2017.
In addition to refueling the reactor and performing regular maintenance and testing, workers will make upgrades to plant systems and components to enhance efficiency and reliability.
“The key to a successful outage is our outstanding employees and supporting partners who work together at the highest levels of safety and quality,” continued Kharrl. “I am proud of the work we’ve done to prepare for this outage, and I’m excited to see what we will accomplish together.”
Southern Company subsidiary Southern Nuclear operates Plant Farley on behalf of Alabama Power. Employees from across the Southern Nuclear fleet are assisting Plant Farley's staff of more than 900 in the refueling effort. More than 800 additional individuals from alliance partners and vendors are on-site performing specialized tasks. This supplemental workforce provides economic stimulus to surrounding communities.
Farley Unit 1 continues to safely generate electricity while Unit 2 is offline and refueling.
About Southern Nuclear: Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), is a leader among the nation’s nuclear energy facility operators and an innovator in advanced nuclear technologies. Southern Nuclear is an essential part of Southern Company’s energy portfolio, and its importance will continue to grow as America transitions to a low-carbon energy future. While the company produces clean, safe and reliable nuclear energy, it’s also an economic engine powered by quality jobs and community service. Southern Nuclear operates a total of six units for Alabama Power and Georgia Power at the Joseph M. Farley Nuclear Plant near Dothan, Ala.; the Edwin I. Hatch Nuclear Plant near Baxley, Ga.; and the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. Southern Nuclear is the licensee of two new nuclear units currently under construction at Plant Vogtle that are the first nuclear units being constructed in the United States in more than 30 years. In 2017, Southern Nuclear won a Technology Transfer award from the Electric Power Research Institute, an Honor Roll award for superior performance in the global boiling water reactor fleet from GE/Hitachi, and the Drivers of Success Award from GT STRUDL. The company’s headquarters is in Birmingham, Ala. Twitter: @SouthernNuclear; Facebook: facebook.com/southernnuclear; www.southernnuclear.com
About Southern Company: Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is a leading energy company serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries as of Jan. 1, 2019. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in three states, natural gas distribution companies in four states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America, a leading distributed energy infrastructure company, a fiber optics network and telecommunications services. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices below the national average. For more than a century, we have been building the future of energy and developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, advanced carbon capture technologies, natural gas, renewables, energy efficiency and storage technology. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation and a low-carbon future, Southern Company and its subsidiaries develop the customized energy solutions our customers and communities require to drive growth and prosperity. Our uncompromising values ensure we put the needs of those we serve at the center of everything we do and govern our business to the benefit of our world. Our corporate culture and hiring practices have been recognized nationally by the U.S. Department of Defense, G.I. Jobs magazine, DiversityInc, Black Enterprise, Forbes and the Women's Choice Award. To learn more, visit www.southerncompany.com.