Saint-Alban Nuclear Power Plant

Saint-Alban Nuclear Power Plant
Location of Saint-Alban Nuclear Power Plant
Official name Centrale nucléaire de Saint-Alban
Country France
Location Saint-Alban-du-Rhône
Coordinates
Status Operational
Construction began 1979
Commission date March 30, 1985 (March 30, 1985)
Operator(s) EDF
Developer(s) Societé d'Energie Nucleaire Franco-Belge des Ardennes
Constructor(s) Bouygues
Reactor information
Reactors operational 2 x 1300 MW
Reactor type(s) PWR
Reactor supplier(s) Areva
Turbine information
Manufacturer(s) Alstom
Power generation information
Installed capacity 2,600 MW
Annual generation 16,466 TWh (2006) ;
16,800 TWh (2008)
Net generation 318 TWh
As of 10 September 2011

The Saint-Alban nuclear power plant is located on the Rhone river, in the Isere department 50 km upstream from Lyon in the communes of Saint-Alban-du-Rhône and Saint-Maurice-l'Exil.

Contents

Description

The power station uses water from the Rhone river to cool its two 1,300 MW reactors and employs 670 people..

Type of reactors

The following types of reactors are installed:

Reactor units

Reactor Unit[1] Type Average Output Rated Power Began construction Finish construction Commercial operation Close of reactor
St.Alban-1 PWR 1381 MW 1335 MW Jan 1979 Aug 1985 May 1986
St.Alban-2 PWR 1381 MW 1335 MW July 1979 July 1986 March 1987

.[2]

Seismological risk

According to WENRA, EDF has prepared a plan in case of an earthquake,[3] however other ASN documents from 2002 there may be some anomalies regarding the remote control and which may put into question the correct functioning of certain elements following an earthquake.

2003 heatwave

Following extremely high temperatures in July 2003 average water temperature rose above the limit authorised by the nuclear safety authorities for a period of 4 hours.

Fire risk

According to the 2007 ASN annual report recommendations were made to the operator to improve the security of the control room.[4]

See also

External links

References