The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff has approved Florida Power & Light’s application for an additional 20 years of operation for Unit 3 and 4 at the Turkey Point nuclear power station near Miami.
This is the first time the NRC has issued renewed licences authorising reactor operation from 60 to 80 years. Unit 3’s renewed licence expires on 19 July 2052 and Unit 4’s on 10 April 2053.
Both units are 837-MW pressurised water reactor plants. Unit 3 began commercial operation in December 1972 and Unit 4 in September 1973.
This is the first time the NRC has issued renewed licences authorising reactor operation from 60 to 80 years. Unit 3’s renewed licence expires on 19 July 2052 and Unit 4’s on 10 April 2053.
Both units are 837-MW pressurised water reactor plants. Unit 3 began commercial operation in December 1972 and Unit 4 in September 1973.
FPL submitted the licence renewal application in January 2018 and amended it with additional information until 10 April 2018.
FPL has invested more than $1bn to upgrade the two Turkey Point units in recent years, adding about 250 MW of new capacity.
In April 2018 the NRC authorised its staff to issue combined licences for FPL to build and operate two Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at Turkey Point.
