The US is pushing towards a net-zero future and the energy sector is at a crossroads. Nearly 30% of the nation’s coal plants are projected to retire by 2035, leaving many communities facing economic uncertainty and a critical question: What comes next?
A promising yet complex answer lies in repurposing coal sites for nuclear energy production.
A 2022 US Department of Energy (DOE) study found hundreds of coal plant sites could be converted to nuclear power, providing clean electricity and revitalising local economies. A more recent DOE report estimates 128-174 GW of new nuclear capacity could be built at retiring coal plants by 2035. Similar transitions could happen globally.
A study published in June in ScienceDirect suggested that the R. M. Schahfer coal plant in Indiana was the most feasible site for coal-to-nuclear conversion.
Recognising the challenges, the DOE published a 2024 guide to help stakeholders navigate technical, economic, and social obstacles in coal-to-nuclear transitions.
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