Palisades power plant poised for historic restart amidst challenges
The Palisades Power Plant in the USA could be the first to resume operations after a previous shutdown. The project, supported by billions of dollars in grants, faces technical obstacles — damaged steam generators are raising regulators' concerns about the reactor's safety, CNBC reports.
The Palisades nuclear plant near Lake Michigan has a chance to make history as the first reactor in the U.S. to resume operations after a previous permanent shutdown. The facility, which ceased operations in 2022, plans to restart this autumn, but it requires approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the completion of costly and complicated repairs, CNBC informs.
Palisades, in operation since 1971, was shut down for economic reasons — nuclear energy began losing out to cheaper natural gas and renewable sources. However, the project to resume operations is supported by both federal and state administrations.
The U.S. Department of Energy granted Holtec International a €1.3 billion loan guarantee, another €924 billion was provided by the Department of Agriculture, and Michigan contributed €212 million in grants. This week, the Department of Energy approved the release of €52 million, signalling political support for the project despite turmoil surrounding federal funding.
The biggest challenge, however, is the technical issues. Inspections revealed over 1,400 signs of corrosive cracks in more than 1,000 steam generator tubes, with some cracks penetrating over 70%. The NRC does not hide its concerns — cracked tubes could result in radioactive water leaking into the environment. "This is very real," emphasizes former Palisades engineering director, Alan Blind.
Repairs to be made
Holtec intends to repair the damage using a sleeving technique, which involves placing special sleeves made of resistant alloys inside the damaged tubes. Holtec President, Kelly Trice, assures that this technology is proven and widely used in power plants around the world.
However, the NRC remains sceptical about the timeline and effectiveness of the repair. Regulators point out that the sleeves designed by Holtec have not been used in this type of steam generator before and anticipate their maximum lifespan to be 10 years.
There is also doubt about the fact that the need to replace the generators has been known for years. As early as 2007, when the previous owner, Consumers Energy, sold Palisades to Entergy, it indicated that replacing these components would be necessary by 2016. However, Entergy decided to operate without investing in new generators, which today undermines the viability of their continued use.
CNBC reminds us that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has advocated for maintaining the power plant and emphasises its importance for local jobs and providing stable, emission-free energy sources.
