Nuclear

Dominion Energy approved to extend North Anna Power Station operations for 20 more years

With the renewed licenses, North Anna reactors 1 and 2 can operate through 2058 and 2060, respectively. 
Dominion Energy approved to extend North Anna Power Station operations for 20 more years
(North Anna Power Station Unit 1. Source: U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.)

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved Dominion Energy Virginia’s application to extend the North Anna Power Station’s operating licenses for an additional 20 years.

The power station operates two nuclear reactors in Louisa County, Va. Dominion Energy’s Surry Power Station previously received NRC approval in 2021 to extend its operating license through 2053. Combined, Surry and North Anna generate 40% of Virginia’s electricity and account for about 90% of the carbon-free power in the state.

“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. “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 Energy said it is conducting numerous upgrades at the station, including replacing the reactors’ main generators and condensers, refurbishing reactor coolant pumps, and converting instrument and control systems from analog to digital. The company is also implementing 80 enhancements to station procedures, such as additional inspections and equipment testing.

The North Anna units were originally licensed to operate for 40 years in 1978 and 1980. Their licenses were renewed for an additional 20 years in 2003, after a federal review process. Under its current licenses, North Anna reactors 1 and 2 could have operated through 2038 and 2040, respectively. With the renewed licenses, the units can operate through 2058 and 2060, respectively. 

Dominion Energy said it plans to seek recovery of the costs associated with the license extension from the Virginia State Corporation Commission later this year.

The nuclear units at North Anna Power Station are both three-loop Westinghouse pressurized water reactors – capable of providing nearly 2,000 MW at peak capacity, or about 17% of the electricity delivered to Dominion Energy Virginia customers.

Dominion Energy’s affiliated companies also plan to seek NRC approval to extend to 80 years the operating licenses of the V.C. Summer Power Station in South Carolina and Millstone Power Station in Connecticut.

Earlier this year, Dominion Energy Virginia issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) from nuclear technology companies to evaluate the feasibility of developing a small modular reactor (SMR) at the North Anna Power Station. While Dominion stressed the RFP is not a commitment to build this SMR, the company said it is an important first step in evaluating the technology and the North Anna site.