The Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor on Finland's west coast restarted test production at around 1am Wednesday, bringing some much-needed extra capacity to Finland's power grid.
Initially the reactor ran at 400 megawatt hours (Mwh), but on Wednesday its production was boosted to its full installed capacity of 1600 MWh, according to the operator, Teollisuuden Voima (TVO).
TVO predicted that it would hit 1600 Mwh around 2pm.
"During the 10-day trial period the reactor will undergo around 10 so-called 'full capacity tests'," said TVO Head of Communications Johanna Aho.
"During testing the production levels will vary considerably. From time to time the unit will be disconnected from the grid altogether," she said.
Testing was suspended in the autumn when cracks in feedwater pumps were spotted. Regular electricity production should start from 8 March after replacement pumps are installed. They are expected to arrive in late February or early March. According to Aho, it is however safe to proceed using the damaged pumps in the meantime.
The much-delayed new reactor was initially intended to start producing for the grid in 2009.
