Vogtle 3, Nuclear Appliance of Ingenuity, Commences Operation in the United States – Initial Reactor After a Seven-Year Hiatus; Second Reactor in Nearly Three Decades.

The Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant in the United States has recently started operating its third reactor, marking the first new nuclear reactor to be commissioned in 7 years since the opening of Watts Bar Unit 2 in 2016. Prior to that, Watts Bar Unit 1 was commissioned 27 years earlier in 1996.

Vogtle Unit 3 is a smaller version of the Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactor. One of its key features is a passive safety system that allows the reactor to shut down without relying on external power for cooling.

Nuclear power plants gained popularity in the United States between 1970 and 1990, but afterwards, there was little to no expansion in the industry, and several projects were put on hold for decades. Currently, there are a total of 93 nuclear reactors in the United States, generating a combined output of 95.88 GW.

TLDR: The Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant has commissioned its third reactor, becoming the first new nuclear reactor in the US in 7 years. Vogtle Unit 3 is a smaller version of the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor and features a passive safety system. The US nuclear industry saw a slowdown after the 1990s, but currently, there are 93 reactors in operation, generating a total output of 95.88 GW.