goingcritical:beznau-1Switzerland · Power reactor
Beznau-1
Status: Operating critical since June 30, 1969 Reactor status full glossary → Announced Publicly announced — a site and design are proposed, but construction has not begun. Site preparation Early site and civil works are under way; the first safety-related ("nuclear") concrete has not yet been poured. Under construction Formal construction has begun, marked by the first nuclear concrete. Fuel loaded Nuclear fuel has been loaded into the core. The reactor is fuelled but has not yet gone critical. Critical Has reached first criticality — a self-sustaining chain reaction, usually at low power — but is not yet connected to the grid. Grid connected Synchronised to the electrical grid and exporting power for the first time, but still in commissioning and power-ascension testing — not yet in commercial service. In commercial operation — the operator has formally declared the unit in regular commercial service. Shut down Permanently shut down and no longer generating; may be defuelled, undergoing decommissioning, or preserved in place. Canceled Abandoned before completion.
Site: Beznau, Aargau
One of the two units at Beznau, the world's oldest operating nuclear power plant. Beznau-1 reached first criticality on 30 June 1969 and entered commercial operation later that year, making it among the longest-serving commercial reactors still in service. Operated by Axpo on an island in the Aare river.
Details
| Design | Westinghouse 2-loop PWR |
| Electrical output | 365 MWe |
Milestone history
- Announced —
- Construction start September 1, 1965
- Fuel load —
- First criticality June 30, 1969
- Grid connection July 17, 1969
- Commercial operation December 24, 1969