Southern Nuclear and Georgia Power this week unveiled the new Vogtle FLEX Dome storage building at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Ga. The dome houses portable emergency equipment and adds yet another layer of protection to the robust safety systems for Vogtle units 1 and 2.  U.S. nuclear plants, including Plant Vogtle, are equipped with numerous redundant safety systems to prevent or respond to emergencies, including backup power resources such as DC battery banks and diesel generators.    

In response to the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi event in Japan, in which that plant lost on-site and off-site power needed to operate its safety cooling systems, industry leaders in the U.S. have worked together to develop flexible, diverse strategies for protecting U.S. plants against such extreme events. These efforts are referred to as the FLEX strategy and include tactics such as FLEX domes. 

Keith Taber, site vice president for Plant Vogtle units 1 and 2, joined plant employees and Vogtle FLEX Dome project leadership for a special event marking the completion of the new facility. 

"Safety, and preparation at all levels, is always our top priority at Plant Vogtle," said Taber. "The dome is the most visible part of the FLEX strategy, but we've also made modifications throughout the plant that further strengthen our ability to protect the health and safety of our workers and the public." 

The Vogtle FLEX Dome is 39-feet tall, nearly 50 yards wide and features steel-reinforced concrete walls that are 24 inches thick. The building is designed to withstand an earthquake, a direct hit by a tornado, airborne flying objects during a tornado or similar threats. The dome will store portable generators, pumps, communication equipment, refueling equipment, and other resources that might be needed if the power supply to the plant were interrupted for an extended period. The portable equipment would be put into service only in the event other redundant resources at the plant were depleted or damaged.    

In addition to Plant Vogtle, FLEX domes are also being put into place at Southern Company nuclear facilities Plant Hatch (Georgia) and Plant Farley (Alabama). Learn more about the construction of these facilities and Southern Company's commitment to safety in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-Sga8NyZzc