Holtec Begins Fuel Loading at Palisades 805 MWe Nuclear Plant Restart in the US

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Holtec International has begun loading nuclear fuel into the reactor core of the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, USA, as part of efforts to restart the previously shut-down unit.

The reactor core consists of 204 fuel assemblies, some of which were used during the final operating cycle of the Michigan facility before it was shut down for decommissioning in 2022. Fadi Diya, Holtec's Chief Nuclear Officer, stated that loading fuel into the reactor is a significant milestone, reflecting the tremendous efforts of all participants in bringing Palisades to its current state; the company remains focused on rigorously completing the remaining work to restore Palisades to safe and reliable operation.

Palisades is a single-unit 805 MWe pressurized water reactor that began commercial operation in 1971. The original owner, Entergy, announced plans to close the plant in 2016; in 2021, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the transfer of the unit's license from Entergy to Holtec for decommissioning. The unit was licensed to operate until March 2031, but after 50 years of operation, Entergy shut it down on May 20, 2022, and completed defueling on June 10.

The unit's license was transferred in the same month (June 2022) from the original operator, Entergy Nuclear Operations, to Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC and Holtec Palisades, LLC for decommissioning.

Shortly after the license transfer, Holtec announced plans to restart the plant and began pursuing the necessary regulatory approvals to return the plant to operation within the remaining term of its license. Holtec stated that it subsequently implemented a comprehensive plant-wide program of inspections, maintenance, refurbishment, testing, and equipment upgrades to ensure long-term operational reliability and resilience. Key activities included extensive reinforcement of the heat transfer tubes in both steam generators, removal of corrosive deposits that had accumulated in the steam generator spaces, replacement of the plant's control rod drive mechanism nozzles, chemical decontamination and passivation of the reactor coolant system, reactor pressure vessel inspections, and a series of equipment upgrades and modernization projects.

In 2024, Holtec notified the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission of its intention to apply for a subsequent license renewal for the plant. This would extend the plant's operating period by an additional 20 years, through 2051. The company is also advancing plans to deploy its Pioneer 1 and 2 SMR-300 units at the Palisades site in the future.