NRC approves Holtec's request to restart Michigan nuclear plant
Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRC) has approved a series of requests from
Holtec International
that lay the groundwork to restart the
Palisades nuclear power plant
in Michigan, the agency and company said on Thursday.
The approvals will allow Holtec to load fuel, but the company will need further approvals before the plant, which ceased operations under a different proprietor in May 2022, can start back up, they said in separate statements.
Holtec is restarting the decommissioned 800-megawatt Palisades plant and plans to install two
small modular reactors
(SMRs), based on existing light water reactor (LWR) technology, at the same facility.
In a partnership with
Hyundai Engineering & Construction
, Holtec plans to build 10 gigawatts of SMRs in North America through the 2030s, starting at Palisades.
Holtec bought the plant to decommission it, but now hopes to reopen it - the first US commercial reactor to restart after ceasing operations - amid rising US power demand driven by data centers and artificial intelligence growth.
"Once returned to service, Palisades will generate more than 800 megawatts of safe, reliable, and carbon-free baseload power - enough to power more than 800,000 households... enhance grid reliability and help meet growing energy demand in Michigan and beyond," Holtec said.
It did not give a start-up date. In March, Holtec said it wants to reopen the plant in the fourth quarter of 2025.
"While these NRC approvals will allow Holtec to load fuel, there are still several licensing actions under NRC review and additional requirements that need to be met before the plant can start up under the original operating license, which would expire March 24, 2031," the NRC said.
The NRC has transferred PNP's operating authority from Holtec Decommissioning International to Palisades Energy LLC and reinstated key documents, including emergency and security plans, maintenance and inspection programs.
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Time of India
26-07-2025
- Time of India
NRC approves Holtec's request to restart Michigan nuclear plant
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a series of requests from Holtec International that lay the groundwork to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, the agency and company said on Thursday. The approvals will allow Holtec to load fuel, but the company will need further approvals before the plant, which ceased operations under a different proprietor in May 2022, can start back up, they said in separate statements. Holtec is restarting the decommissioned 800-megawatt Palisades plant and plans to install two small modular reactors (SMRs), based on existing light water reactor (LWR) technology, at the same facility. In a partnership with Hyundai Engineering & Construction , Holtec plans to build 10 gigawatts of SMRs in North America through the 2030s, starting at Palisades. Holtec bought the plant to decommission it, but now hopes to reopen it - the first US commercial reactor to restart after ceasing operations - amid rising US power demand driven by data centers and artificial intelligence growth. "Once returned to service, Palisades will generate more than 800 megawatts of safe, reliable, and carbon-free baseload power - enough to power more than 800,000 households... enhance grid reliability and help meet growing energy demand in Michigan and beyond," Holtec said. It did not give a start-up date. In March, Holtec said it wants to reopen the plant in the fourth quarter of 2025. "While these NRC approvals will allow Holtec to load fuel, there are still several licensing actions under NRC review and additional requirements that need to be met before the plant can start up under the original operating license, which would expire March 24, 2031," the NRC said. The NRC has transferred PNP's operating authority from Holtec Decommissioning International to Palisades Energy LLC and reinstated key documents, including emergency and security plans, maintenance and inspection programs.
Time of India
25-07-2025
- Time of India
India developing three types of small modular reactors: Jitendra Singh
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India is developing three different types of small modular reactors (SMRs), including one dedicated to the production of hydrogen, mostly in the form of captive plants for energy-intensive industries, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Singh said the three types of SMRs - 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), 55 MWe SMR and 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor - for the production of hydrogen are being designed and developed indigenously."In-principle approval has been obtained for the construction of these demonstration reactors. These demonstration reactors are likely to be constructed in 60 to 72 months after receipt of administrative sanction of projects," he minister said the lead units of BSMR and SMR are planned to be installed at Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) sites in collaboration with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL)."An estimate prepared based on the experience of setting up of 220 MWe plants indicates that the overall cost for the lead unit of 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) will be about Rs 5,750 crore," said Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office that oversees the DAE.A 5 MWth high temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (GCR) is also planned to be used exclusively for hydrogen production by coupling with a suitable thermochemical hydrogen production process, he potential thermo-chemical technologies for hydrogen production, such as Copper-Chloride (Cu-Cl) and Iodine-Sulphur (I-S) cycles, have already been developed and demonstrated by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Singh technology for the deployment of these reactors is available in the country and the majority of equipment is within the manufacturing capability of the Indian industry with technological handholding by the DAE, he said."These plants are designed & developed considering deployment as captive power plants, repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based plants and hydrogen production to support the transport sector with the prime objective of decarbonisation ," Singh the installed nuclear power capacity in the country comprises 25 reactors with a total capacity of 8,880 MW, including RAPS-1 (100 MW), which is under long-term units of 700 MWe each - Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) 3 and 4 and one 700 MWe unit at Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP-7) have already commenced commercial present, 18 reactors with a total capacity of 13,600 MW, including 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor implemented by BHAVINI, are at various stages of the progressive completion of these units, the installed nuclear power capacity will reach 22,480 MW, Singh said.
News18
24-07-2025
- News18
India developing three types of small modular reactors: Jitendra Singh
New Delhi, Jul 24 (PTI) India is developing three different types of small modular reactors (SMRs), including one dedicated to the production of hydrogen, mostly in the form of captive plants for energy-intensive industries, Union minister Jitendra Singh said on Thursday. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Singh said the three types of SMRs — 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR), 55 MWe SMR and 5 MWth High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor — for the production of hydrogen are being designed and developed indigenously. 'In-principle approval has been obtained for the construction of these demonstration reactors. These demonstration reactors are likely to be constructed in 60 to 72 months after receipt of administrative sanction of projects," he said. The minister said the lead units of BSMR and SMR are planned to be installed at Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) sites in collaboration with Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL). 'An estimate prepared based on the experience of setting up of 220 MWe plants indicates that the overall cost for the lead unit of 200 MWe Bharat Small Modular Reactor (BSMR-200) will be about Rs 5,750 crore," said Singh, the Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office that oversees the DAE. A 5 MWth high temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (GCR) is also planned to be used exclusively for hydrogen production by coupling with a suitable thermochemical hydrogen production process, he said. The potential thermo-chemical technologies for hydrogen production, such as Copper-Chloride (Cu-Cl) and Iodine-Sulphur (I-S) cycles, have already been developed and demonstrated by the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Singh said. Necessary technology for the deployment of these reactors is available in the country and the majority of equipment is within the manufacturing capability of the Indian industry with technological handholding by the DAE, he said. 'These plants are designed & developed considering deployment as captive power plants, repurposing of retiring fossil fuel-based plants and hydrogen production to support the transport sector with the prime objective of decarbonisation," Singh said. Presently, the installed nuclear power capacity in the country comprises 25 reactors with a total capacity of 8,880 MW, including RAPS-1 (100 MW), which is under long-term shutdown. Two units of 700 MWe each – Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) 3 and 4 and one 700 MWe unit at Rajasthan Atomic Power Project (RAPP-7) have already commenced commercial operation. At present, 18 reactors with a total capacity of 13,600 MW, including 500 MW Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor implemented by BHAVINI, are at various stages of implementation. On the progressive completion of these units, the installed nuclear power capacity will reach 22,480 MW, Singh said. PTI SKU SKU KSS KSS view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 17:15 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
