Westinghouse reactor could operate to 2050
Power utility Duke Energy has submitted a subsequent licence renewal application to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the Robinson-2 nuclear power plant in South Carolina.
The application requests an extension of the Westinghouse 741 MW pressurised water reactor’s operations for an additional 20 years to 2050.
The plant is the only one at the Robinson site, near Hartsville. It began commercial operation in 1971.
The NRC recently approved the subsequent renewal of all three units at Duke’s Oconee nuclear power station, also in South Carolina.
The company has said it intends to request subsequent licence renewal for all 11 operating reactors in its nuclear fleet.
Duke Energy said nuclear energy remains a critical component of its energy mix, supplying more than half of the electricity consumed by its Carolinas customers. Robinson alone contributes significantly to this output, it said.
