AP1000
Generation III+ pressurized water reactor (PWR) designed by Westinghouse with 1117 MWe net capacity and passive safety systems relying on natural circulation.
The AP1000 uses two coolant loops, 157 fuel assemblies, and canned rotor pump motors. It achieves 18-month refueling cycles and was certified by US NRC in 2011 with amendments. Four units are operational at Vogtle plant in Georgia, USA, with first grid connection in 2023.
Why it matters now
AP1000 deployments at Vogtle mark the first new US reactor builds in decades, signaling restart of large PWR construction amid 2025-2026 demand from data centers seeking firm power PPAs.