22 Jun (NucNet): NRG Energy has begun work on a combined construction and operating licence (COL) application for two nuclear power units at the existing South Texas Project (STP) nuclear power plant.
The New Jersey-based utility, which has a 44% share in STP, said construction of units three and four at the plant is expected to cost 5.2 billion US dollars (4 billion euros). The first of the units could be operational in 2014, followed by the second in 2015. The units would add a combined total of 2,716 megawatts (MW) gross of new nuclear generating capacity.
NRG said it had submitted a letter of intent to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on 19 June 2006. The company said the new units would be advanced boiling water reactors (ABWRs), which it called the most advanced nuclear technology in operation with a history of on-time, on-budget construction in Japan.
The utility plans to work with General Electric, whose ABWR design has been certified by the NRC, and Hitachi, which has been involved in developing and constructing four ABWR plants in operation in Japan.
The proposed two new units are part of wider plans by NRG to develop approximately 10,500 MW of new electrical generation capacity over the next decade. NRG said this “re-powering initiative”, which will be funded with the support of partners and project finance debt, would represent a total investment of USD 16 billion in a mix of new generating sources.
The existing two units at STP are both 1,280 MW (net) pressurised water reactors. South Texas-1 began commercial operation in 1988 and South Texas-2 in 1989. The plant is operated by STP Nuclear Operating Company for its three owners: the City of Austin (16%), CPS Energy (40%) and NRG.
In May 2006 the US announced details of proposed federal risk insurance designed to encourage the construction of new nuclear power units. The NRC is expecting several applications for new units in late 2007 and early 2008. It recently announced plans to establish a dedicated organisation in its Atlanta office to be the centre of all inspection activity for new units.
The US Nuclear Energy Institute says 10 US companies or consortia are pursuing combined operating licence applications that could lead to the construction of around 20 reactor units. They include the NuStart Energy Development consortium, Progress Energy, Duke Energy and Constellation Energy.
