WNP-1 and WNP-4
Encyclopedia
WNP-1 and WNP-4 were, along with the Columbia Generating Station
(formerly called WNP-2) and WNP-3 and WNP-5
, two of the five nuclear power plant
s on which construction was started by Energy Northwest
in the 1970s. In the end, WNP-1 was mothballed when 63% constructed, WNP-3, -4 and -5 abandoned, and only the Columbia Generating Station was completed and operated. WNP-1 and -4 are located on the Hanford Reservation in the U.S. state of Washington.
WNP-1 and -4 are located on 972 acres (3.9 km²) approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the Columbia Generating Station.
The five reactors were all pressurized water reactor
s except for the Columbia Generating Station. WNP-1 and -4 were being manufactured by Babcock and Wilcox
(as were the Three Mile Island reactors and the two now planned to be completed at the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station
).
A 2002 study concluded that restarting construction on WNP-1 was technically feasible but not cost-effective. As a result, Energy Northwest requested termination of the construction license which was received on February 8, 2007.
However, TVA which has two similar partially completed power plants at the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station revived its terminated construction license and has decided to proceed with staffing and long lead item ordering for completion of Unit 1. This would indicate that a more up-to-date study on completion of WNP-1 is needed.
- WNP-1 - WNP-4
Columbia Generating Station
The Columbia Generating Station, is a nuclear power station located on the United States Department of Energy Hanford Site, 12 miles NW of Richland, Washington. Its site covers 1,089 acres of Benton County, Washington....
(formerly called WNP-2) and WNP-3 and WNP-5
WNP-3 and WNP-5
WNP-3 and WNP-5 were, along with the WNP-2 and WNP-1 and WNP-4, two of the five nuclear power plants on which construction was started by the Washington Public Power Supply System in 1977...
, two of the five nuclear power plant
Nuclear power plant
A nuclear power plant is a thermal power station in which the heat source is one or more nuclear reactors. As in a conventional thermal power station the heat is used to generate steam which drives a steam turbine connected to a generator which produces electricity.Nuclear power plants are usually...
s on which construction was started by Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest is a United States public power joint operating agency formed by State law in 1957 to produce at-cost power for Northwest utilities. Headquartered in Richland, Washington, the WPPSS became commonly knowns as "Whoops"before being renamed Energy Northwest in November 1998...
in the 1970s. In the end, WNP-1 was mothballed when 63% constructed, WNP-3, -4 and -5 abandoned, and only the Columbia Generating Station was completed and operated. WNP-1 and -4 are located on the Hanford Reservation in the U.S. state of Washington.
WNP-1 and -4 are located on 972 acres (3.9 km²) approximately 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of the Columbia Generating Station.
The five reactors were all pressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactor
Pressurized water reactors constitute a large majority of all western nuclear power plants and are one of three types of light water reactor , the other types being boiling water reactors and supercritical water reactors...
s except for the Columbia Generating Station. WNP-1 and -4 were being manufactured by Babcock and Wilcox
Babcock and Wilcox
The Babcock & Wilcox Company is a U.S.-based company that provides design, engineering, manufacturing, construction and facilities management services to nuclear, renewable, fossil power, industrial and government customers worldwide. B&W's boilers supply more than 300,000 megawatts of installed...
(as were the Three Mile Island reactors and the two now planned to be completed at the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station
Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station
The Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station is a partially completed nuclear power plant located in Hollywood, Alabama. A total of four reactors have been proposed over a period of 40 years, and billions of dollars have been spent, but no electricity has yet been produced. The site has sat idle for...
).
A 2002 study concluded that restarting construction on WNP-1 was technically feasible but not cost-effective. As a result, Energy Northwest requested termination of the construction license which was received on February 8, 2007.
However, TVA which has two similar partially completed power plants at the Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station revived its terminated construction license and has decided to proceed with staffing and long lead item ordering for completion of Unit 1. This would indicate that a more up-to-date study on completion of WNP-1 is needed.
External links
- Nuclear Projects Under the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (current information, State of Washington official website)
- Nuclear thaw? Goldschmidt hunts for potential investors (to complete WNP-1) (2002 article)
- The Fifth Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Plan (2005)
- Energy Northwest Executive Board Review of Nuclear Program (2003)
- WNP-1 - WNP-4