Oconee cleared to operate for up to 80 years

Tuesday, 1 April 2025

The first two of the three pressurised water units at the plant were connected to the grid in 1973, and the third in 1974. They are currently licensed to operate to the early 2030s. Oconee is Duke Energy's largest nuclear power plant, with a total capacity of more than 2500 MWe, and the first for which it has submitted an application for subsequent licence renewal. The application was submitted in June 2021.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) said its review of the application proceeded on two tracks: a safety evaluation report was issued in December 2022, and a final environmental impact statement was issued in February 2025.

"The NRC's Atomic Safety and Licensing Board terminated the adjudicatory proceeding regarding the application in January 2025, concluding that no contested matters remained before it for resolution," the NRC noted. "The Board's decision has been appealed to the Commission. NRC regulations allow the licences to be issued while an appeal is pending. The Commission retains the ability to act on the appeal and, as needed, direct additional staff action on the licences."

The licenses now expire in February 2053 and October 2053, respectively, for units 1 and 2, and July 2054 for unit 3.

Duke Energy said the approval of its subsequent, or second, renewed licences enables Oconee to support the company's "'all of the above' strategy to deliver a path to cleaner energy while protecting reliability and affordability for customers as regional electricity demand continues to grow". 

"Approval to extend Oconee Nuclear Station's licences is a significant milestone for Duke Energy and provides significant learnings to use in completing licence applications for our other plants," said Duke Energy Chief Nuclear Officer Kelvin Henderson. "As we address growth, modernise the fleet and invest in cleaner technologies, subsequent licence renewal helps ensure nuclear energy continues to be a vital part of Duke Energy's generation portfolio."

Duke Energy operates nuclear reactors at six sites in North and South Carolina: the three-unit Oconee plant, two-unit plants at Brunswick, Catawba and McGuire; and two single-unit plants at Robinson and Shearon Harris. In 2024, its six plants provided more than 50% of Carolina customers' electricity and more than 96% of the company's clean energy. Keeping its nuclear fleet operating is seen by Duke as key to achieving its carbon reduction goals of at least 50% by 2030 and net-zero by 2050 from electricity generation.

US reactors are initially licensed by the NRC to operate for up to 40 years - a period originally based on economic, rather than technology, limitations. An initial licence renewal extends those operating lives to 60 years. Subsequent licence renewal extends the period of operation from 60 to 80 years.

All Duke Energy nuclear plants have received initial licence renewal to achieve up to 60 years of operation. The company is working toward extending the life of all of its existing nuclear units up to 80 years, with plans to submit a licence renewal application for its Robinson nuclear power plant, also in South Carolina, later this month.

To date, US 12 reactors have been approved for operation to 80 years. The NRC is currently reviewing applications for a further five units.