The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission renewed the operating license for Duke Energy's Robinson Nuclear Plant in South Carolina for an additional 20 years, allowing the unit to operate until 2050. The renewal extends the working life of a plant that has supplied the regional grid for decades and reflects a broader industry push to keep existing reactors running longer.
License renewals have become a central feature of U.S. nuclear policy as electricity demand rises and operators seek to preserve carbon-free baseload capacity. Utilities are pursuing renewals at roughly 20 plants and power uprates at 29 units, while planning more than 23 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity over the next 15 years. The nation's licensed reactors generate close to 20 percent of U.S. electricity, a share the federal energy agency expects to hold near 18 percent in 2026.
The Robinson decision fits a pattern that also includes reactor restarts. The commission approved the restart of Holtec's Palisades plant in Michigan, the first such approval in U.S. history, with the unit scheduled to return to service this year. For the grid, extending existing plants offers a faster path to firm capacity than building new units, which face longer timelines and higher upfront costs.
Source: POWER Magazine - https://www.powermag.com/duke-energys-robinson-nuclear-plant-gets-nrc-approval-to-operate-until-2050/