The Energy Agency issued a decision on the main grid protection system for Olkiluoto 3

In its decision, the Energy Agency considers Fingrid to have unjustifiably transferred its obligations related to the grid protection system to Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO).

In the decision, the Energy Authority requires Fingrid to submit to the Energy Authority for confirmation a presentation of the principles based on which the costs of the protection system will be covered.

It is important that short- and long-term development efforts related to grid protection be launched immediately to ensure that nuclear power plants can be operated at full power level without unreasonable costs.TVO is committed to supporting Fingrid with these development efforts.

On grid protection

National grid operator Fingrid has set a limit of 1,300 megawatt (MW) for the maximum permissible change in the power level of the electrical system.Such a change in the power level could occur, for example, in case of abnormal conditions causing a sudden disruption of the entire production of Olkiluoto 3 (OL3).This means that the national grid, as it is today, is not ready for the full production capacity of OL3 (1,600 MW).

The opinion of Fingrid is that with production exceeding the 1,300 MW power output level, the national grid requires protection which will ensure the operability of the grid also in case abnormal conditions occur.At present, protection is implemented by reducing the consumption of specified industry consumers as well as by utilising e.g., battery storage plants.

The power output of OL3 has in recent months been reduced on several occasions, because the protection operated by Fingrid has not been fully available.This may occur, for example, when an industrial business that is a contractual party to the protection system is undergoing a maintenance outage.

For further information, please contact:

Sami Jakonen, Corporate Advisor, p. +358 50 560 2733