Beznau Nuclear Power Plant
Type: Pressurised water reactor
Start of commercial operations: 1969/1972
Nominal thermal output of each reactor: 1130 MW
Gross electrical output: 380 MWe
Net electrical output: 365 MWe
News
All Swiss nuclear power plants comply with the updated earthquake safety standards
For the second time since the Fukushima accident in 2011, power plant operators have demonstrated that their plants are capable of withstanding an extremely rare, severe earthquake.
IAEA Director General receives an insight into Swiss backfitting philosophy
ENSI experts gave IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi, a guided tour of the Beznau nuclear power plant. Grossi was given a picture of the continuous improvements made to nuclear safety as laid down in the Vienna Declaration, in the setting of a Swiss example.
ENSI’s assessment of earthquake safety at the Beznau nuclear power plant ruled correctly
The Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate assessed the earthquake safety of the Beznau nuclear power plant in accordance with the legal requirements. The Swiss Federal Administrative Court has thus rejected an appeal lodged by 15 individuals.
Video interview: Beznau 1 Nuclear Power Plant gets the go-ahead to start up again
Hans Wanner, Director General of ENSI: “Axpo has proved that the inclusions found in the steel of the reactor pressure vessel do not have a negative effect on the safety. “
Beznau 1: Aluminium oxide inclusions do not have a negative impact on reactor pressure vessel safety
Beznau 1 NPP gets the go-ahead to start up again. Axpo has proved that the inclusions found in the steel of the reactor pressure vessel do not have a negative effect on safety. ENSI, the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate, has reviewed and accepted the safety case.
“Extensive test program shows no evidence of a detrimental effect of the inclusions on the brittle fracture reference temperature”
An international panel of experts supported the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI in assessing Axpo’s safety case for the Beznau 1 reactor pressure vessel. In an interview, the chair of the review panel Tim Williams explains why they support the conclusion that Beznau 1 may be restarted. The IRP has been following Axpo’s safety […]
Chronology: from the findings in Belgium to the proof of safety from Beznau 1
In the summer of 2012, findings are detected in the basic material of the reactor pressure vessel of the Belgian nuclear power plant Doel-3. As a result, nuclear power plants in Switzerland also have to carry out inspections. Since findings are also detected in the reactor pressure vessel of Beznau 1, Axpo needs to prove it was safe. The Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate ENSI accepts this proof in 2018.
The carbon content of the steam generators at Beznau and Gösgen is not too high
The steam generators at Beznau and Gösgen do not deviate from the design requirements in terms of their carbon content. This is the result of a review of the manufacturing documents. The structural integrity of the steam generators’ individual components is ensured by a large margin.
“The inspection of the steam generators of the Gösgen and Beznau Nuclear Power Plants will not require a temporary shut-down”
Georg Schwarz, ENSI Deputy Director and head of the NPPs Division, explains the background and context in the following interview.