The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved Exelon Generation Company's application for an additional 20 years of operation for Peach Bottom units 2 and 3, authorising an operating life of up to 80 years. These are the second subsequent licence renewals granted by the US regulator, following Turkey Point units 3 and 4 which were granted renewals last December. Peach Bottom 2's subsequent renewed licence will expire on 8 August 2053 and unit 3's on 2 July 2054.

Peach Bottom (Image: Exelon Generation)

The rationale for the NRC's decision is documented in its final Safety Evaluation Report on the application, published last month, and in a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement published in January. The NRC's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards also reviewed the safety aspects of renewing the licences, the regulator said.

Peach Bottom 2's subsequent renewed licence will expire on 8 August 2053 and unit 3's on 2 July 2054. The rationale for the NRC's decision is documented in its final Safety Evaluation Report on the application, published last month, and in a final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement published in January. The NRC's Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards also reviewed the safety aspects of renewing the licences, the regulator said.

Exelon submitted its application for the subsequent licence renewal for the two plants, which are located near Delta, Pennsylvania, in July 2018. The company said it had recently made significant investments in new equipment and technologies to increase the plant's generation capacity by about 12%. Many major components, including the station's high and low-pressure turbines, steam dryers, main generators and main power transformers have been replaced or upgraded.

Bryan Hanson, Exelon Nuclear chief nuclear officer, said the ability to operate Peach Bottom for another 20 years was good news for the environment, the company's employees and the community. "However, nuclear plants must remain financially viable to continue to operate," he said. "It's critical that we continue to pursue policy reforms that value the environmental, economic and reliability benefits that zero-carbon nuclear energy provides." 

The NRC is authorised under the US Atomic Energy Act to issue licences for commercial power reactors to operate for up to 40 years - a time period which it says was based on economic and antitrust considerations, rather than limitations of nuclear technology. These licences can be renewed for an additional 20 years for an operating lifetime of 60 years: most of the USA's commercial nuclear power plants are now operating under such renewed licences. Subsequent licence renewals cover a further 20 years of operation beyond 60 years, with the application review process focusing on on the management of plant ageing during the 60-80 year operating period.

Peach Bottom 2 and 3 are boiling water reactors that began commercial operations in 1974. If the plant continues to operate until 2054, Exelon estimates that its clean energy production would avoid emissions of more than 536 million tonnes of carbon.

The NRC is currently in the process of reviewing a subsequent licence review application from Dominion Energy for Surry units 1 and 2, on which a final decision scheduled is for June. According to letters of intent submitted to the regulator, subsequent licence renewal applications are expected to be submitted later this year for Dominion's North Anna units 1 and 2 and in late 2021 for Duke Energy's Oconee units 1 and 2.