Fuel loading under way for Palisades restart, Holtec announces

The reactor core consists of 204 fuel assemblies, which includes some partially used assemblies from the Michigan plant's final operating cycles before it was closed down for decommissioning in 2022.

Holtec International Chief Nuclear Officer Fadi Diya said: "Loading fuel into the Palisades reactor is an important milestone and a reflection of the tremendous effort of the men and women who have brought this plant to this point ... we remain focused on disciplined execution of the remaining work and returning Palisades to safe and reliable operation."

Palisades, a single-unit 805 MWe pressurised water reactor, began commercial operation in 1971. Owner Entergy announced in 2016 its plan to close the plant, with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission approving in 2021 the transfer of the licence from Entergy to Holtec for the purposes of decommissioning it. The 805 MWe pressurised water reactor was licensed to operate to March 2031 but was removed from service - after 50 years - by Entergy on 20 May 2022, and defuelled by 10 June.

Palisades is in the process of being restarted (Image: Holtec)

The unit's licence was transferred from previous operator Entergy Nuclear Operations to Holtec Decommissioning International, LLC and Holtec Palisades, LLC, for decommissioning the same month. Shortly afterwards Holtec announced plans to restart the plant and it began the process of obtaining the licensing approvals needed to return the plant to operational status for the remainder of its licensing term.

Since then, there has been a programme of "extensive inspection, maintenance, refurbishment, testing, and equipment upgrades across the station to ensure utmost reliability and resiliency for long-term operation", Holtec says.

The major work included "extensive reinforcement of tubes in the two steam generators; removal of accumulated corrosive species from their steam generation space; replacement of the plant's control rod drive mechanism nozzles; chemical decontamination and passivation of the primary system; reactor vessel inspections; and numerous equipment upgrades and modernisation projects".

Holtec notified the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2024 that it intended to apply for a second, or subsequent, licence renewal for the plant. This would extend the plant's operating period by a further 20 years, to 2051. It is also advancing plans for the future deployment of its Pioneer 1 and 2 SMR-300 units at the Palisades site.