Watts Bar Unit 2 completes fuel load. PSEG ESP final environmental impact statement completed.
January 22, 2016
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News Updates
The Tennessee Valley Authority has completed fuel loading of the Watts Bar Unit 2 reactor. TVA plans to begin commercial operation of the 1,150 MW reactor in early 2016 following completion of power ascension testing.
The final environmental impact statement for the PSEG Early Site Permit (ESP) has been completed; an ESP could be issued as early as mid-2016. If approved, the permit will be valid for up to 20 years and can serve as input to a license application.
Regulatory Status
Eighteen Combined Construction and Operating License (COL) applications have been docketed; three have received COLs; six (totaling 10 nuclear reactors) remain under active Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) review, nine were suspended1 due to utility economic or other considerations. A Reference COL (R-COL) application has been submitted for five reactor designs; subsequent COLs (S-COLs) will incorporate the corresponding R-COL application by reference, noting any site-specific departures. Southern Nuclear’s Vogtle Units 3 and 4, SCE&G’s V.C. Summer Units 2 and 3, and DTE Energy’s Fermi Unit 3 have received COLs.
Reactor Design Certification (DC)
Summary: Three reactor designs that are being considered for future builds in the U.S. are certified, one additional design is under review and two renewal applications are under NRC review.
Westinghouse AP1000 – Amended design certified on December 30, 2011.
GEH ESBWR – Design certified; final rule effective November 14, 2014.
Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) APR1400 – Submitted December 23, 2014 and docketed March 4, 2015.
AREVA US-EPR – Submitted December 12, 2007, and docketed February 25, 2008; review suspended at the request of the applicant.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries US-APWR – Submitted December 31, 2007 and docketed February 29, 2008; MHI has requested a deferral of the review due to their work on reactor restarts in Japan.
GEH ABWR – Certified in 1997. Toshiba and GEH have also separately submitted design certification renewal applications that are currently under review.
Early Site Permits (ESP)
Summary: Four ESPs issued; one under review:
TVA plans to submit an ESP application for a small modular reactor at its Clinch River site in Tennessee in the spring of 2016.
PSEG submitted an ESP application for its nuclear plant site in Salem County, New Jersey, on May 25, 2010. Issuance of an ESP is expected in mid-2016.
The following ESPs have been issued: Exelon – Clinton (IL), 3/15/07; Entergy – Grand Gulf (MS), 4/5/07; Dominion – North Anna (VA), 11/27/07; Southern – Vogtle site (GA), 08/26/09.
Decommissioning
Seven plants have announced decommissioning plans. Entergy closed its single-unit Vermont Yankee plant in late 2014; sustained low natural gas prices, financial impacts of cumulative regulations, and the wholesale market structure all contributed to the company’s decision to shutter the plant. Dominion’s closure of its single-unit Kewaunee plant in May 2013 also followed from low wholesale electricity prices; closures at San Onofre and Crystal River were both due to problems related to steam generator replacements. Entergy announced plans to close the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station no later than June 2019 as well as the FitzPatrick plant in late 2016 or early 2017 due to economic factors. Exelon previously announced the planned closure of their Oyster Creek plant in 2019. There are currently 99 reactor units operating.
New Plant Construction Progress
Summary: Full nuclear construction has begun for V.C. Summer Units 2 and 3 and Vogtle Units 3 and 4. TVA is nearing completion of Watts Bar 2.
Vogtle
Unit 3: A 10-foot-thick concrete foundation has been set in place to support the generator and turbine. All CA03 (refueling water tank containment wall) submodules have been delivered to the site.
Unit 4: The second steam generator has been delivered; this is the final steam generator for the project. Vertical construction of the cooling tower is 50% complete.
VC Summer
Unit 2: Second cooling tower is 50% complete. Concrete foundation has been set in place to support the generator and turbine.
Unit 3: Fabrication of containment vessel top head is 50% complete. Reactor vessel closure head is in transit; reactor vessel integrated head package has been delivered.
Watts Bar 2
NRC has issued the operating license for Watts Bar Unit 2; fuel has been loaded. Plant staffing is at the required level for dual unit operation. Training for dual unit operation has been completed; the reactor is expected to enter commercial operation in early 2016 once power ascension testing has been completed.
Expected Operation Dates
TVA expects Watts Bar 2 to enter commercial operation in early 2016.
Southern Nuclear’s Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are expected to come online in mid-2019 and 2020, respectively.
SCE&G’s V.C. Summer Units 2 and 3 are expected to come online in mid-2019 and 2020, respectively.
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1 Bellefonte 3&4, Callaway 2 (later withdrawn), Calvert Cliffs 3 (later withdrawn), Grand Gulf 3, River Bend 3, Victoria County 1&2 (later withdrawn), Shearon Harris 2&3, Comanche Peak 3&4, Nine Mile Point 3 (later withdrawn).