We’ve all heard the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050—but figuring out how to reach that goal is a complicated task.
Electricity demand is projected to rise over the next decade as more data centers, electric vehicles, and industrial processes search for clean, firm power sources.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) estimates we’ll need about 200 GW of additional nuclear capacity by 2050 to support this demand and a good chunk of that could come from a familiar place.
New preliminary analysis from DOE shows that there’s the potential to install 60 to 95 GW of new capacity at existing and recently retired nuclear power plant sites.
A Closer Look at the Report
The new report examined all 54 operating and 11 recently retired nuclear power plant sites across 31 states.
To estimate the viability of potentially adding new capacity at these locations, researchers looked at the sites’ footprint and acreage, aerial analysis, utility plans, and a siting analysis tool developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
They also considered other factors such as the availability of adequate cooling water, proximity to large population centers or hazardous facilities, along with unacceptable seismic or flood hazards to assess potential deployment options.
Leveraging Existing Sites
Early research shows that 41 operating and retired nuclear power plant sites have room to host one or more large light-water reactors, such as the AP1000 reactors recently built at Vogtle in Georgia.
This would create an additional 60 GW of new capacity!
That number could grow to 95 GW if you look at sites that can potentially host smaller, advanced reactors of 600 MW.
These locations would be ideal places to start building new reactors.
Studies show a majority of people who live by nearby power plants already agree that nuclear energy is a good neighbor.
They provide wages that are typically 30% higher than the local average and tax revenue that can be used to improve local schools, roads, and bridges — making the case for nuclear even stronger in these areas.
Sites with Planned Reactors or License Applications
Map of Sites with Planned Reactors or License Applications
Speeding Up the Licensing Process
Researchers also looked at sites with operating nuclear power plants where companies have previously engaged with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) on licensing for 17 additional reactors.
While these reactors were never built, they were planned to be added to existing sites and could have led to 24 GW of clean energy capacity.
According to the report, the NRC previously issued combined construction and operating licenses (COL) for eight large reactors at five existing sites—meaning they were already carefully characterized, evaluated, and determined to be suitable for operation.
Additional COL applications for nine more reactors were initiated at seven additional sites but were suspended or withdrawn before the NRC completed its review.
This indicates there is a very high degree of confidence that these sites would be potentially suitable to host a reactor.
Taking advantage of licensing engagements could speed up the licensing process and save time and money for new builds.
Next Steps
Our Analysis & Integration campaign conducted the study with contributions from researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory.
The report also looked at building nuclear power plants near coal plants and found an additional 128 to 174 GW of new nuclear capacity could be built, depending on the reactor type.
These findings align with our previous research on coal-to nuclear transitions that could leverage the existing workforce and some of the infrastructure in these energy communities to provide substantial economic and environmental benefits.
However, it’s important to note that this only a preliminary analysis.
Utilities and communities will need to work closely together to make the decisions on whether to build a new plant.
As always, capital costs will be a key factor influencing this deployment.
To help in this area, DOE recently created a new tool to help quantify capital cost reduction pathways for new reactors to help stakeholders better identify strategies to lower costs.