Olkiluoto 3’s Commercial Power Production Commenced
16 April 2023

In an eagerly anticipated and historic moment for the energy sector, Olkiluoto 3 (OL3), a state-of-the-art nuclear power plant, has achieved its Commercial Operation Date on April 16, 2023. This marks a significant milestone for the project, which has faced numerous delays and challenges over the years.

The Olkiluoto 3 plant is a next-generation European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR), which is designed to provide safe and reliable electricity generation using nuclear power. It has a capacity of 1600 MW and is expected to produce approximately 12 terawatt hours of electricity per year and reducing carbon emissions by millions of tons annually.

The OL3 reactor hall.

It is the first new nuclear power plant to be built in Western Europe in over a decade. The construction of Olkiluoto 3 has not been without challenges, with delays and cost overruns pushing the project completion date beyond its original timeline. However, with the persistence and determination of the teams involved, the plant has now successfully achieved COD, which signifies that it has met all the necessary regulatory requirements and test runs and therefore is now ready to generate electricity for commercial use.

As Suomen Voima continues to prioritize clean and sustainable energy production for its owners, Olkiluoto 3’s COD is a momentous event that highlights the importance of nuclear power as a viable and environmentally responsible energy source. For Suomen Voima, the power plant brings a significant increase of approximately 250 GWh annual steady power output for its portfolio.

The Olkiluoto nuclear site in Eurajoki.

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