Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant, Nuclear power facility in Eurajoki, Finland.
The facility consists of three reactors located on an island off the western coast of Finland, producing a large portion of Finnish electricity. The reactor buildings sit directly by the sea and are connected to the mainland through roads and supply lines.
The first reactor was started in 1974 and went online in 1979, the second followed in 1980, and the third after a long construction period in 2022. These development steps made Finland one of the major nuclear energy producers in Northern Europe.
The name comes from Finnish and refers to the natural island where the facility stands. Guided tours and information centers show visitors how the reactors operate and what safety systems are used.
The site lies roughly 12 miles (20 kilometers) north of Rauma and can be reached by a road from the mainland. Visitors must register in advance for tours, as access to the site is controlled for security reasons.
The waste heat is used for the northernmost vineyard in the world, where Zilga grapes grow despite the cold climate. This vineyard shows how residual heat from energy production can be reused in unusual ways.
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