The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved 20-year extensions for Dominion Energy’s North Anna Power Station’s two nuclear reactors, allowing them to operate until 2058 and 2060. The North Anna units are 944 MWe pressurised-water reactors located in Louisa County, Virginia, about 40 miles northwest of Richmond.
The two units were originally licensed to operate for 40 years, beginning in 1978 and 1980. In 2003, the licences were renewed for an additional 20 years, permitting the two reactors to operate until 2038 and 2040.
Dominion Energy Virginia began the application process for North Anna’s most recent renewal in August 2020, according to NRC website, and went through an environmental audit, a safety evaluation and public hearings over the past four years. In October 2023, NRC revised the licence renewal schedule, delaying the approval from July to August.
Nuclear power has received a great deal of attention lately in Virginia, after Dominion announced plans in July to potentially develop a small modular reactor (SMR) at North Anna. The company issued a request for proposals to nuclear technology companies as a first step in evaluating the feasibility of building a smaller reactor at the site.
Governor Glenn Youngkin, who was at the announcement at North Anna, has championed nuclear energy as a key part of fulfilling the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which requires Dominion and Appalachian Power to shift to carbon-free, renewable energy sources for electricity generation in the next 26 years. Youngkin signed a bill in July that permits Dominion to petition the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) at any time before the end of 2029 for its approval of a rate adjustment clause to recover development costs for an SMR.
“For more than 50 years, nuclear power has been the most reliable workhorse of our fleet and the largest source of carbon-free power in Virginia,” said Eric Carr, Dominion Energy’s Chief Nuclear Officer, said in a statement. “North Anna operates around the clock and generates the reliable, clean energy that powers our customers’ homes and businesses every day. With this 20-year extension, our customers can continue counting on North Anna for reliable, carbon-free power for another generation to come.”
Dominion plans to make several upgrades to the North Anna plant, including replacing generators and condensers, refurbishing reactor coolant pumps and converting instrument and control systems from analogue to digital. The utility will seek recovery of these costs from the SCC later this year, it said in a news release. Dominion Energy’s affiliated companies also plan to seek NRC approval to extend operating licences for power stations in South Carolina and Connecticut, according to the statement.
NRC said its review of the application from Virginia Electric and Power Co, a subsidiary of Dominion Energy, proceeded on two tracks. A safety evaluation report was issued in January 2022, and a final environmental impact statement was issued in July 2024.
With the renewal of the North Anna licences, eight commercial nuclear power reactors have received subsequent renewed licences (authorising operations from 60 to 80 years), NRC noted. Seven applications for subsequent licence renewal are currently under review.
