Watts Bar Unit 2 Completes Power Ascension Test

SPRING CITY, Tenn. (WDEF) – TVA reports that Watts Bar Unit 2 passed some important tests over the weekend on its path to full power.

The unit passed a final power ascension test.

That means a 50% load rejection at full power, and then safely returning to full power.

The test was delayed, but not directly affected by a switchyard transformer fire on August 30th.

“When we decided to complete Unit 2, we made a commitment to the people we serve that we would take the time necessary to do so safely and with high quality,” said Joe Grimes, TVA executive vice president of generation and chief nuclear officer. “The Watts Bar team has now passed another important milestone in fulfilling that commitment to reliably provide additional low-cost, clean energy to the Tennessee Valley.”

Next up for Unit 2, a pre-commercial operations reliability period at full power.

The reactor is now producing more than 1,150 megawatts of energy.

The second unit at Watts Bar is trying to become the first new nuclear generator in the U.S. since the turn of the century.