Framatome Delivers GAIA Fuel Assemblies Containing the First Complete Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel Concept

Framatome delivered the industry’s first full-length Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel (EATF) concept containing both pellets and claddings to Georgia Power’s Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant. Southern Nuclear, operator of Plant Vogtle, inserted the GAIA lead fuel assemblies containing EATF during the Unit 2 spring refueling outage. Framatome delivered the fuel to the plant in January 2019.

Vogtle-2 Returns to Service with Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel

Unit 2 of the Vogtle nuclear power plant in Georgia, USA, has returned to service loaded with Framatome’s GAIA fuel assemblies containing the first complete Enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel (EATF) concept. Unit 2 resumed operations on 3 April, following its spring refuelling and maintenance outage that began on 10 March.

Vogtle Accelerates Innovation in Nuclear Energy with Accident Tolerant Fuel

An important milestone for the nuclear industry is taking place in Georgia and it’s not the one you might think. When it comes to innovation, it’s easy to think of new plant construction or advanced reactor technology, but the industry also is on the path to beating its own timeline for developing accident tolerant fuel (ATF)—one of several new technologies that will help our current fleet achieve more efficiency.