Framatome announced the completion of the second 18-month fuel cycle of its GAIA PROtect Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel (EATF) technology at Georgia Power’s Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Unit 2. Following 36 months of operations, inspections confirm the chromium-coated fuel rods maintain their original characteristics and the chromia-enhanced pellets operate as designed. These full-length fuel rods complete with chromia-enhanced pellets are the first-of-a-kind operating in the U.S.
“Southern Nuclear is a recognized leader in our industry for its incremental deployment of enhanced accident tolerant fuel technology,” said Lionel Gaiffe, senior executive vice president, Fuel Business Unit at Framatome. “We share this significant milestone for our PROtect program, demonstrating our technology performs to the industry’s highest standards. The performance of this fuel after three years in a reactor core is a very important step in the development and industrialization of innovative solutions for our customers.”
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