Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station in Seneca, South Carolina, has received approval from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to extend its operating licences for an additional 20 years. This renewal allows the facility to operate until 2053 and 2054, ensuring reliability amid increasing regional electricity demand.
The 2,554MW Oconee is the first nuclear facility within Duke Energy’s portfolio to achieve this milestone, extending its operational licence to a total of 80 years. The company is also preparing to submit a licence renewal application for its Robinson Nuclear Plant in Hartsville, South Carolina, in April 2024, as part of its broader initiative to extend the operational life of all existing nuclear units.
The renewal licence comes after the company carried out key maintenance and upgrades at Oconee, including the replacement of reactor vessel heads, steam generators, turbines, transformers, pumps, and valves. In 2024, Oconee implemented power uprate improvement projects across all three units, resulting in an additional 45MW of capacity.
Nuclear energy has been a source of electricity for Duke Energy’s customers in the Carolinas for over 50 years. In 2024, the six nuclear plants operated by Duke Energy supplied more than 50% of the electricity consumed by customers in the region and accounted for over 96% of the company’s clean energy output.
Duke Energy chief nuclear officer Kelvin Henderson said: “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.
“As we address growth, modernize 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.”
US nuclear facilities, originally licenced for 40 years based on economic factors rather than technological limitations, undergo a thorough evaluation process for licence renewal, which allows for an additional 20 years of operation. All Duke Energy nuclear plants have successfully received initial licence renewals, enabling them to operate for up to 60 years, with subsequent renewals permitting operations for up to 80 years.
