goingcritical:beznau-2Switzerland · Power reactor
Beznau-2
Status: Operating critical since October 16, 1971 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
The second unit at the Beznau plant, twin to Beznau-1. Reached first criticality on 16 October 1971 and began commercial operation in March 1972. Together with Beznau-1, it makes Beznau the oldest operating nuclear power station in the world, run by Axpo in canton Aargau.
Details
| Design | Westinghouse 2-loop PWR |
| Electrical output | 365 MWe |
Milestone history
- Announced —
- Construction start January 1, 1968
- Fuel load —
- First criticality October 16, 1971
- Grid connection October 23, 1971
- Commercial operation March 15, 1972