Palisades comes back to life: US nuclear plant heads for restart after four years

The restart of the 805 MW Palisades nuclear power plant in the United States is nearing successful completion. In early July, technicians completed all major work by placing the turbine generator in position. The unit still faces a series of inspection checks before nuclear fuel is loaded into the reactor, but it is expected to return to service this year. The plant in southwestern Michigan generated electricity from 1971 to 2022. 

US energy company Holtec International announced that the project to restart the already decommissioned Palisades nuclear power plant had made significant progress. Technicians at the site successfully completed the last of the major refurbishment work: positioning the turbine generator. The plant now has only routine maintenance, inspections and operational readiness testing to complete before startup.

“These accomplishments reflect the tremendous amount of work carried out across the plant during the restart project. We are now focused on safely completing the remaining testing, verification and operational activities required before startup. The plant is getting back into shape, and the professionalism and commitment of our employees continue to move the project forward,” said business unit head Steven Soler and site vice president Michael Schultheis.

Holtec also highlighted the new nuclear fuel handling system as a significant achievement. In addition to new and refurbished plant components, the other systems have undergone rigorous inspections to ensure they meet the requirements for reliable operation going forward.

Restart after 4 years

The Palisades nuclear power plant in Michigan, with an installed capacity of 805 MWe, generated electricity from 1971 until May 2022. However, in 2024 the US government provided financial support for restarting the plant, and Holtec began taking active steps towards that goal.

“The progress made at Palisades is impressive and reflects the dedication and professionalism of the team carrying out this historic restart. Restarting the facility will strengthen energy security, support well-paying jobs and reinforce southwestern Michigan’s important role in America’s energy future and the future of nuclear power,” said Congressman Bill Huizenga.

Palisades will become the first US nuclear power plant to be restarted after all nuclear fuel was removed from its reactor. Another project nearing completion is the restart of the Crane Clean Energy Center (formerly the Three Mile Island plant). Restarts and preparations for new nuclear power plants are being driven primarily by demand for electricity from data centers using artificial intelligence. For this reason, the owner of the Duane Arnold plant began taking steps to restart it last year.

“As we enter the final phase of this historic effort, we are grateful for the support provided by our federal, state and community partners. Restarting the Palisades reactor will serve as a lasting testament to what can be achieved when government and the private sector work together to accomplish an important national goal,” said Holtec Chairman and CEO Dr. Kris Singh.