Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant connected to the main grid without any problems

The Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant was connected to the main grid on 12th March at 12.01 pm. No problems arose during the connection. The main grid can now transmit the electricity generated by Olkiluoto 3 to consumers.

Fingrid has made careful preparations for connecting Olkiluoto 3, which is one of the world’s largest power plants. According to Minna Laasonen, Senior Expert responsible for commissioning, the power plant was connected to the main grid in line with the advance plans and without any issues.

Connecting Olkiluoto 3 to the main grid means that the Olkiluoto 3 control centre synchronised the power plant to the main grid using a circuit breaker. Before commissioning, the Olkiluoto 3 control centre contacted Fingrid’s Main Grid Control Centre. Fingrid’s Main Grid Control Centre monitored the synchronisation process with interest.

Following the successful connection of the nuclear power plant to the main grid, the power plant will be tested for a few months before it is put into commercial operation.

During the commissioning phase, Teollisuuden Voima and the Olkiluoto 3 plant supplier will test the power plant and ensure that it operates stably and reliably under various circumstances. Fingrid, as the party responsible for the power system, will also ensure that Olkiluoto 3 meets the applicable technical and functional requirements during the commissioning phase. This way Fingrid is able to ensure system security. During commissioning, the power output will be increased in stages, and the functionality between the nuclear power plant and the main grid will be tested systematically.

“Efforts will be made to ensure that the commissioning phase is completed as planned, so the tests have as little impact on the rest of the power system as possible,” emphasises Laasonen.

Further information: Minna Laasonen, Fingrid Oyj, Senior Expert, tel. +358 30 395 5132
Email addresses are in the form firstname.lastname@fingrid.fi

Fact box:

• Olkiluoto 3 will increase Finland’s self-sufficiency in energy, provide more power on cold winter days and increase the inertia in the Nordic power system.
• With a power output of approximately 1,600 megawatts, Olkiluoto 3 is the largest power plant in Finland and the Nordic countries. OL3 system protection will limit the impact on the power system to 1,300 megawatts in the event that Olkiluoto 3 is suddenly disconnected.
• By international comparison, Olkiluoto 3 is the world’s third-largest power plant after Taishan 1 and Taishan 2 (1,660 MW) in China.
• Olkiluoto 3 will generate an average of 15 per cent of the electricity consumed in Finland.
• Altogether, the three Olkiluoto power plants will generate one-third of Finland’s electricity.
• According to the current schedule, Olkiluoto 3 will begin regular electricity generation in July 2022.