Return to operation after four years: US Palisades nuclear power plant heads for restart

The US Palisades nuclear power plant has moved a step closer to restarting after producing no electricity for four years. Technicians have begun loading nuclear fuel into the reactor of the unit with an installed capacity of 805 MW. If progress proceeds smoothly, the nuclear unit should return to operation later this year. Restarts of US nuclear power plants are being driven primarily by rising electricity consumption from data centres.

US energy company Holtec International announced that it had begun loading nuclear fuel into the reactor at the Palisades plant. Technicians will load a total of 204 fuel assemblies into the reactor, some of which have already been partially used from before the unit was shut down in 2022.

“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. I am proud to lead an organisation with such talented and dedicated people who feel deep pride in this plant and a deep commitment to their community,” said Fadi Diya, Holtec International’s director responsible for its nuclear division.

The single pressurised-water reactor at the Palisades plant has a capacity of 805 MWe and had generated electricity since 1971. Once fuel loading is completed, Holtec will carry out a series of required tests, inspections and activities before the plant, located in southwestern Michigan, is again declared fit for operation.

“We remain focused on completing the remaining work and returning the Palisades plant to safe and reliable operation,” Fadi Diya added.

Holtec International also plans to build new Pioneer modular reactors at the site and increase the plant’s installed capacity by at least 600 MW.

The first restarted nuclear power plant in the US

The plant originally had an operating licence for 60 years, until 2031. The plant’s former owner, Entergy, had no interest in maintaining its operation. After the plant, including its licence, was transferred to Holtec for the purpose of full decommissioning, the new owner began planning its restart. In 2024, the company announced its intention to apply for a further 20-year licence extension and restart the reactor.

The Palisades plant will become the first restarted nuclear power plant in the US after nuclear fuel has been removed from it. The state of Michigan and the US government, which provided financial support for the return-to-operation project under the UPRISE programme, have also contributed to this achievement.

Other US nuclear restart projects include the Crane Clean Energy Center plant, formerly Three Mile Island, and Duane Arnold. The main driver of restarts is rising electricity consumption, particularly from data centres.