Reactors Indian Point Energy Center

1 reactors

1.1 history , design
1.2 nuclear capacity
1.3 refueling

reactors
history , design

the reactors built on land housed indian point amusement park, acquired consolidated edison (conedison) on october 14, 1954. indian point 1, built conedison, 275-megawatt pressurized water reactor issued operating license on march 26, 1962 , began operations on september 16, 1962. first core used thorium-based fuel, fuel did not live expectations. plant operated uranium dioxide fuel remainder of life. reactor shut down on october 31, 1974, because emergency core cooling system did not meet regulatory requirements. spent fuel removed reactor vessel january 1976, reactor still stands. licensee, entergy, plans decommission unit 1 when unit 2 decommissioned.

the 2 additional reactors, indian point 2 , 3, four-loop westinghouse pressurized water reactors both of similar design. units 2 , 3 completed in 1974 , 1976, respectively. unit 2 has generating capacity of 1,032 mw, , unit 3 has generating capacity of 1,051 mw. both reactors use uranium dioxide fuel of no more 4.8% u-235 enrichment. reactors @ indian point protected containment domes made of steel-reinforced concrete 40 inches thick, carbon steel liner.

nuclear capacity

units 2 , 3 2 of 6 operating nuclear energy sources in new york state. new york 1 of 5 largest states in terms of nuclear capacity , generation, accounting approximately 5% of national totals. indian point provides 39% of state s nuclear capacity. nuclear power produces 34.2% of state’s electricity, higher u.s. average of 20.6%. of 2015, indian point generates approximately 10% of state s electricity needs, , 25% of electricity used in new york city , westchester county. contract consolidated edison 560 megawatts. new york power authority, built unit 3, stopped buying electricity indian point in 2012. nypa supplies subways, airports, , public schools , housing in nyc , westchester county. entergy sells rest of indian point s output utilities in upstate ny , elsewhere in new england. although many states sized nuclear industries net electricity exporters, new york has historically been electricity importer due high consumption. in 2013, new york had fourth highest average electricity prices in united states. half of new york s power demand in new york city region; two-fifths of generation originates there.

refueling

the operating units 2 , 3 each refueled on two-year cycle. @ end of each fuel cycle, 1 unit brought offline refueling , maintenance activities. on march 2, 2015, indian point 3 taken offline 23 days perform refueling operations. entergy invested $50 million in refueling , other related projects unit 3, of $30 million went employee salaries. unit brought online on march 25, 2015.