Industrial Info Tracks $650 Million in U.S. Nuclear Plant Refueling Projects for First-Half 2019

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The United States is the world's largest producer of nuclear power, accounting for more than 30% of worldwide nuclear generation of electricity, according to the World Nuclear Association (London, England), an international association that promotes nuclear power. Nuclear reactors produced 20% of the total electrical output in the U.S. in 2017, the association adds.

As of December 3, there were 99 operating nuclear reactors at 61 nuclear power plants in the U.S., according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The R. E. Ginna Nuclear Power Plant in New York is the smallest nuclear power plant in the U.S., with one reactor with a generating capacity of 582 megawatts (MW). The Palo Verde nuclear power plant in Arizona is the largest nuclear power plant, with three reactors and a generating capacity of about 3,937 MW.

Since 2013, seven U.S. nuclear reactors have been shut down permanently, and plant operators have announced another 12 would shut down in the future. Although parts of the country's nuclear power industry seem to be struggling these days (see March 18, 2018, article - Industry Observers Ask, 'Which Other Nuclear Plants Could Close Prematurely?'), the operating facilities still need to be refueled periodically. Industrial Info is tracking about $650 million worth of U.S. nuclear refueling projects that are planned to kick off in the first half of 2019.

Click on the image at right for a graph showing planned first-half 2019 U.S. nuclear refueling outage kickoffs by market region.

Most nuclear power plants power down every 18 to 24 months, during which time workers replace about one-third of the used fuel assemblies with new ones, according to Duke Energy Corporation's (NYSE:DUK) (Charlotte, North Carolina) Nuclear Information Center. Such planned temporary shutdowns often occur in the spring and fall, when energy demand is lower, and allow nuclear plant operators to perform inspections and maintenance.

The planned first-half 2019 outage projects range in value from $12 million to $30 million. According to Duke, the typical refueling outage duration for U.S. nuclear plants is 35 days, among the shortest average in recent decades.

Georgia Power Company, which is part of Southern Company (NYSE:SO) (Atlanta, Georgia), plans to begin a $30 million maintenance refueling outage at Unit 2 of the Alvin Vogtle Nuclear facility in Waynesboro, Georgia. The 33-day outage at the 1,152-MW unit is planned to start in the first quarter. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

In Marseilles, Illinois, Unit 2 of Exelon Corporation's (NYSE:EXC) (Chicago, Illinois) La Salle County Generating Station is expected to undergo a $29 million, 32-day maintenance outage in the first quarter. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report.

In Huntersville, North Carolina, a 29-day maintenance outage valued at $28.4 million is planned for Unit 1 of Duke Energy's McGuire Nuclear Power Station. BHI Energy (Bartlett Nuclear) (Weymouth, Massachusetts) is the onsite contractor for the project. For more information, see Industrial Info's project report. Unit 2 of the power station underwent a maintenance refueling outage that was completed in October this year.

Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Industrial Info's quality-assurance philosophy, the Living Forward Reporting Principle™, provides up-to-the-minute intelligence on what's happening now, while constantly keeping track of future opportunities. Follow IIR on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn. For more information on our coverage, send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.com or visit us online at http://www.industrialinfo.com.