Aecon Group secured a $200 million contract from Dominion Energy to replace Condensers and Feedwater Heaters at the North Anna Power Station in Mineral, Virginia.
Dominion Energy is an integrated energy utility providing electricity, natural gas, and related services. Their power generation includes various sources, such as natural gas, oil, coal, hydro, biomass, wind, fuel cells, solar, and nuclear energy.
Dominion Energy’s North Anna Nuclear Power Station spans 1,075 acres, housing two units that collectively produce 17% of Virginia’s electricity and supply power to over 450,000 homes.
North Anna Nuclear Power Station – About the Plant
The North Anna Nuclear Power Station is a prominent energy facility in Louisa County, Virginia, under the operation of Dominion Energy. The power station houses two nuclear reactors, Unit 1 and Unit 2.
The facility’s construction commenced in 1971, marking a significant step in the region’s energy infrastructure. The first of the two units, Unit 1, initiated production in 1978, with Unit 2 following suit in 1980.
The reactors at North Anna deploy pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology, a widely used design in nuclear power generation. In the PWR system, nuclear fission within the reactor core generates intense heat.
This heat is, then, employed to produce steam from water, which drives the turbines, converting the thermal energy into mechanical energy, which, in the final stage, powers generators to produce electricity.
North Anna Nuclear Power Station – Aecon's Contract Details
Aecon’s scope of work for the North Anna Power Station project involves planning, designing, and replacing condenser tube bundles and the 5th and 6th point feedwater heaters.
Condenser tube bundles play a critical role in nuclear facilities by facilitating the conversion of steam back into water after it passes through turbines. These bundles comprise small tubes that efficiently transfer heat from steam to water, allowing the steam to condense.
They operate by exposure to a flow of cooler water, aiding the condensation process. Over time, maintenance or replacement of these components may be necessary due to wear and corrosion, ensuring the plant’s optimal functioning and efficiency.
Aecon has outlined that the initial planning stages are slated to commence in the first quarter of 2024, with the entire project scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2027.
Aecon - Leadership Comments on the Project
Jean-Louis Servranckx, President & Chief Executive Officer of Aecon Group Inc., expressed enthusiasm about leveraging Aecon’s vast experience in nuclear services to support this significant project for a sustainable future.
According to Aecon’s CEO, the group looks forward to collaborating with Dominion Energy. The company confirmed that the project will be led by their U.S. nuclear team and emphasized their focus on ensuring the project’s safety, adhering to schedules, maintaining quality, cost-effectiveness, and operational excellence.
Aecon is also concurrently involved in Canada’s two largest nuclear refurbishment projects, delivering the first grid-scale Small Modular Reactor in North America, and managing the execution of the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions Dismantlement and Removal project in South Carolina.
