Palisades nuclear plant's comeback: Hope and hurdles ahead
The Palisades Power Plant in the USA could become the first to resume operations after a previous shutdown. Despite receiving billions in grants, the project faces technical obstacles as damaged steam generators raise regulators' concerns about the reactor's safety, according to CNBC.
Located near Lake Michigan, the Palisades nuclear plant has the potential to make history as the first U.S. reactor to restart after being permanently shut down. Although the facility ceased operations in 2022, it plans to restart this fall, subject to approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and the completion of costly and complex repairs, CNBC reports.
Palisades, which has been operational since 1971, was initially shut down for economic reasons—nuclear energy was no longer cost-competitive compared to cheaper natural gas and renewable sources. However, both federal and state governments are backing the project to restart operations.
The U.S. Department of Energy has extended a $1.5 billion loan guarantee to Holtec International. Additionally, the Department of Agriculture has provided $1.3 billion, and Michigan has contributed $300 million in grants. This week, the Department of Energy approved the release of $57 million, indicating political support for the project despite uncertainties surrounding federal funding.
The most significant challenge, however, is the technical issues. Inspections identified over 1,400 instances of corrosive cracks in more than 1,000 steam generator tubes, with some cracks penetrating over 70%. The NRC is openly concerned—cracked tubes could potentially lead to radioactive water leaking into the environment. "This is very real," emphasizes former Palisades engineering director, Alan Blind.
Repairs to be made
Holtec plans to address the damage using a sleeving technique, which involves inserting special sleeves made of resistant alloys into the damaged tubes. Holtec President Kelly Trice assures that this technology is proven and widely used in power plants worldwide.
However, the NRC remains skeptical about the timeline and effectiveness of the repairs. Regulators note that the sleeves designed by Holtec have not been previously used in this type of steam generator, and they expect their maximum lifespan to be 10 years.
There is also skepticism about the long-standing need to replace the generators, which has been acknowledged for years. As early as 2007, when the previous owner, Consumers Energy, sold Palisades to Entergy, it was noted that replacing these components would be necessary by 2016. However, Entergy decided to keep operating without investing in new generators, which now raises doubts about the viability of their continued use.
CNBC notes that Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has been a proponent of sustaining the power plant, highlighting its role in maintaining local jobs and providing a stable, emission-free energy source.
