This is the second periodic inspection for Sendai-1 since its restart following a safety examination by the Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) to confirm compatibility with the nation’s new regulatory standards. Prior to the inspection, Kyushu Electric Power said that it would “work carefully on each inspection item—giving safety top priority—and make every possible effort to ensure safe, stable operation in the future.”
Sendai-1 and -2 were the first NPPs in Japan to clear the new regulatory requirements: in September 2014. In August 2015, respectively. Unit 1 was subsequently restarted, going back on line in September 2015. It continued steady operation, entering its first periodic inspection in October 2016. Two months later, in December 2016, it was restarted again, and operated normally from January 2017, accumulating a record of safe and stable performance without experiencing any serious problems.
In July 2017, Kyushu Electric Power submitted an evaluation of its safety improvements to the NRA. Under the new standards, power companies are required to make an evaluation and submit a report within six months of the completion of an inspection.
Sendai-1 operated at full capacity throughout last year (2017), achieving a capacity factor of 106.7%. The previous year in which it had operated at full capacity was 2009, with a capacity factor of 105.0%.
