ML26023A001

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Power Uprate and Extended Fuel Cycle Licensing Strategy Meeting for Vogtle 1&2 (Slides)
ML26023A001
Person / Time
Site: Vogtle  
Issue date: 01/27/2026
From: Jeanne Johnston
Southern Nuclear Operating Co
To:
Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
Download: ML26023A001 (0)
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Text

Jeanne Johnston, Lead Licensing Engineer January 27, 2026 Power Uprate and Extended Fuel Cycle Licensing Strategy Meeting for Vogtle 1&2

  • Provide an overview of the licensing actions for Vogtle 1&2
  • Obtain feedback on licensing strategy that support the sites long-term strategic goals Meeting Goals 2

Vogtle 1&2 Goals

  • Potential transition to 24 month fuel cycles

3

  • Vogtle 1&2

- Plant Overview

- Uprate History

- Licensing Strategy and Integrated Schedule

- Related Licensing Submittals

  • Key Regulatory Considerations
  • Next Steps/Questions Agenda

- Unit 1 -Renewed License expires 2047

- Unit 2 -Renewed License expires 2049

- Planned Subsequent License Renewal Application

  • Demand for power driving need for uprate
  • Planning for 24 month fuel cycle extensions including a fuel transition
  • Opportunity to update the plant leveraging Inflation Reduction Act Vogtle Electric Generating Plant Vogtle Units 1-4 generate approximately 4.5 GW, Largest US Nuclear Power Plant 4

Year License and Amendments Licensed Thermal Power (MWth)

Increase

%CLTP Increase

%OLTP 1987/1989 Original license Unit 1/2 3411 1993 Stretch Uprate 3565 4.5%

104.5%

2008 MUR 3625.6 1.7%

106.3%

~2029 Proposed EPU 3750 3.4%

109.9%

Vogtle Units 1&2 Uprate History MUR - Measurement Uncertainty Recapture EPU - Extended Power Uprate CLTP - Current Licensed Thermal Power OLTP - Original Licensed Thermal Power 5

6

  • Phase 1 - Methodology Updates and Fuel Transition

- Update Analyses to allow for Higher Burnup Fuel (68 GWD/MTU) - RG 1.183 Rev 1, LAR under review

- Spent Fuel Pool Criticality LAR - bounds EPU and 24 month fuel cycles

- Fuel Transition to Robust Fuel Assembly (RFA) LAR

>> ADOPT fuel pellets, AXIOM cladding

>> Incremental Burnup, Full Spectrum LOCA, 3D Rod Ejection

>> Applicable Analyses Bounded to EPU conditions

  • Phase 2 - Uprate LAR

- 3.4 % uprate to 3750 MWth

- 2/3 core RFA fuel - Implementation U1-Fall 2030 ; U2-Spring 2031

  • Phase 3 - Potential 24-Month Fuel Cycle (24 MFC) LAR

- Full core RFA Fuel (U2-Fall 2032, U1-Fall 2033)

- Extend Surveillances, LEU+ (>5 wt% U-235)

- EPRI Alternate Licensing Strategy for High Burnup

- Considering options for Rod Control Cluster Assemblies (RCCAs) to address Shutdown Margin (SDM)

- AST RG 1.183 rev 2 LAR - up to 80 GWD/MTU Burnup Vogtle 1&2 Licensing Strategy

7 Vogtle 1&2 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q Fuel Fabrication Fuel Fabrication Fuel Fabrication Fuel Fabrication EPU and Fuel Transition 1/3 RFA 1/3 RFA EPU 2/3 RFA EPU 2/3 RFA Full core RFA Full core RFA 24-Month Cycle transition 24 MFC and SDM 24 MFC and SDM Uprate NRC Review LAR: EPU Fuel Transition LAR: Fuel Transition to RFA Spent Fuel Pool Criticality LAR: SFP Criticality 24 MFC timeline LAR: 24 Month Fuel Cycle (MFC)

Alternate Source Term (AST)

LAR: Alternate Source Term RG 1.183 Rev 1 LAR: Alternate Source Term RG 1.183 Rev 2 LTA High Burn up for high enrichment LAR: High Burnup for High Enrichment LTA Subsequent Licence Renewal Subsequent License Renewal Vogtle 1&2 Integrated Schedule - Dates Subject to Change Unit 1 Unit 2 Tentative - project not yet approved 24 MFC month fuel cycle EPU - Extended Power Uprate IE - Increased Enrichment LAR - License Amendment Request (review time)

LTA - Lead Test Assembly RFA-Robust Fuel Assembly RPS - Reactor Protection System SDM - Shutdown Margin SFP - Spent Fuel Pool IE Rulemaking Draft IE Rule for Public Comment

8

  • Targeted LAR submittal: Q2 2027
  • Requesting approval: Q2 2028
  • Updated criticality analysis to bound EPU and 24 MFC including:

- Bounding subsequent power uprate to 3750 MWth

- Robust Fuel Assembly (RFA) fuel product with ADOPT pellets and AXIOM cladding

- Up to 200 Integral Fuel Burnable Absorber (IFBA) or Gadolinia Burnable Absorbers

- LEU+ (> 5 wt% U-235) - potential 50.68 exemption if IE rulemaking is delayed

- Approved Topicals - Paragon2 2D Transport Code - (WCAP-18443-P-A)

- NUREG/CR-6801, Recommendations for Addressing Axial Burnup in PWR Burnup Credit Analyses burnup profiles

- High Burnup/LEU+ future precedents:

>> Dominion Energy (Millstone Power Station) up to 6.5 wt% U-235 (ML25217A192)

>> Duke Energy (McGuire Nuclear Station) up to 7.0 wt% U-235 (ML25188A265)

Vogtle 1&2 Spent Fuel Pool Criticality LAR

9

  • Targeted LAR submittal: Q3 2027
  • Requesting Approval: Q3 2028 (date needed for fuel fabrication)
  • Implementation starts Spring 2029 Unit 1, Fall 2029 Unit 2

- 10 CFR 50.46 exemption if Increased Enrichment & 50.46a/c rule delayed

  • Implementation of Incremental Burnup Extension method (WCAP-18446-P-A)
  • Implementation of method updates:

Full-Spectrum LOCA (FSLOCA) (WCAP-16996-P-A)

PAD5 Fuel Performance Analysis (WCAP-17642-P-A) 3D Rod Ejection Accident Analysis (WCAP-15806-P-A)

  • Precedents - McGuire, Turkey Point Vogtle 1&2 Robust Fuel Assembly (RFA) Transition LAR

10

  • Targeting LAR submittal: Q4 2028
  • Requesting Approval: Q4 2029
  • 3.4% targeted uprate from 3625.6 MWth to 3750 MWth (109.9% OLTP)
  • Planned power ascension: Unit 1 by Fall 2030, Unit 2 by Spring 2031
  • Balance of Plant Mods being scoped

- High Pressure Turbine Replacement

- Moisture Separator Reheater replacements

- Feedwater pump and Heater Drain pump motor upgrades

- Circulating Water pump upgrades or adding a forced draft cooling tower

- Generator Step up Transformer cooler upgrades Vogtle 1&2 Power Uprate LAR

Vogtle 1&2 Environmental Resource Areas For Consideration

  • Land Use

- Expected to remain within the current licensing basis.

  • Air Quality

- Low likelihood of an air permit modification; only needed if additional cooling tower is needed.

  • Surface Water Use/Quality

- Consideration of potential to increase withdrawal rates, evaporative losses and discharge temperatures 11

12

  • Targeting LAR submittal: Q3 2029
  • Requesting Approval: Q3 2030
  • Higher Burnup up to 80 GWD/MTU for extended fuel cycles (RG 1.183 Rev 2)

- As allowed by approved Westinghouse methods for high burnup applications

  • LAR Implementation supports potential 24 MFC implementation

- Consequence analyses described in Rev. 2 LAR will bound anticipated 24 MFC operation

  • Environmental Qualification approach

- EQ doses will continue to be based on RG 1.89 Rev. 1 source term and scaled as appropriate based on core inventory changes Vogtle 1&2 Alternative Source Term RG 1.183 Rev 2 LAR

13

  • Targeted LAR Submittal: ~Q3 2030
  • Requesting Approval: ~Q3 2031
  • Potential implementation: Unit 2 by Fall 2032, Unit 1 by Fall 2033
  • Considering RCCA modifications and licensing options to address Shutdown Margin (SDM) requirements
  • Precedents

- Turkey Point 24-month fuel cycle For Vogtle HBU/LEU+ would be necessary

- Duke (future precedent for LEU+/HBU); McGuire submittals will be before SNC EPRI Alternate Licensing Strategy (ALS) (In Review)

Westinghouse LEU+ Topical (WCAP-18773) (Approved)

Westinghouse HBU Cladding Rupture Topical (WCAP-18550) (Approved)

Westinghouse PAD 5 HBU/LEU+ Supplement (WCAP-17642) (Submittal 1Q26)

Full-Spectrum LOCA (FSLOCA) HEF Supplement 3 (WCAP-16996) (Submitted - Under NRC Review)

Westinghouse HBU Topical (WCAP-19027) (Submittal 1Q26)

Alternative Source Term - RG-1.183 Rev. 2 (needed for burnup targets)

Reduced complexity for SNC submittal as Utility specific methods would not need approval

- Generic Letter 91-04 approach Vogtle 1&2 - Potential 24 Month Fuel Cycles

Regulatory Considerations

  • Increased Enrichment Rulemaking completed on schedule is essential to achieving our objectives and reduced risk associated with uncertainty in current regulatory frameworks

>> Changes to 50.46, 50.67, and 50.68 would be included to reduce/eliminate exemptions to support uprates and fuel cycle extensions

  • Part 51 rulemaking outlined in SRM-SECY-24-0046 will inform environmental application content and approach 14

15

  • SNC is committed to presubmittal engagement activities
  • At least one more targeted presubmittal meeting will be held prior to the formal submittal
  • Additional focused presubmittal meetings may be requested for special topics
  • SNC will work with the designated PM to determine if readiness review presubmittal activities may be beneficial Next Steps

17

  • Approved - A-Version ML# pending Approved/Planned Topicals and Other Supporting References Document Description Status Title ADAMS Accession Supports SNC LAR WCAP-18482-P-A Implementation of ADOPT fuel pellets Approved Westinghouse Advanced Doped Pellet Technology (ADOPT ) Fuel ML22316A013 Fuel Transition WCAP-18546-P-A Implementation of AXIOM cladding Approved Westinghouse AXIOM Cladding for Use in Pressurized Water Reactor Fuel ML23089A063 Fuel Transition WCAP-18446-P-A Incremental extension of burnup limit Approved Incremental Extension of Burnup Limit for Westinghouse and Combustion Engineering Fuel Designs ML24227A590 Fuel Transition WCAP-16996-P-A Full-Spectrum LOCA (FSLOCA) methodology Approved Realistic LOCA Evaluation Methodology Applied to the Full Spectrum of Break Sizes ML17277A130 Fuel Transition WCAP-17642-P-A PAD5 fuel performance analysis Approved Westinghouse Performance Analysis and Design Model (PAD5)

ML17335A334 Fuel Transition WCAP-16259-P-A RAVE 3D Non-LOCA Methodology Approved Westinghouse Methodology for Application of 3-D Transient Neutronics to Non-LOCA Accident Analysis ML062580354 Uprate/24MFC WCAP-18443-P-A PARAGON2 2D Transport Code Approved Qualification of the Two-Dimensional Transport Code PARAGON2 ML21214A336 Spent Fuel Pool Criticality WCAP-15806-P-A 3D Rod Ejection accident analysis Approved Westinghouse Control Rod Ejection Accident Analysis Methodology Using Multi-Dimensional Kinetics ML033350177 Fuel Transition WCAP-18773-P-A LEU+ fuel design Approved Higher Enrichment for Westinghouse and Combustion Engineering Fuel Designs ML25274A113 24 Month Fuel Cycle WCAP-18850*

HBU cladding rupture Approved FSLOCA Evaluation Methodology to Perform Analysis of Cladding Rupture for High Burnup Fuel ML24060A161 24 Month Fuel Cycle WCAP-17642 PAD5 HBU/LEU+ supplement Submittal 1Q26 Westinghouse Performance Analysis and Design Model (PAD5)

N/A 24 Month Fuel Cycle WCAP-16996, Supplement 3 FSLOCA HEF supplement Submitted for Review Extension of FSLOCA Evaluation Methodology to Perform Analysis of High Burnup Fuel ML25363A148 24 Month Fuel Cycle WCAP-19027 Westinghouse HBU topical Submittal 2Q26 High Burnup Extension for Westinghouse Designs N/A 24 Month Fuel Cycle RG 1.183 Rev 2 Proposed Rev 2 AST Regulatory Guide DG-1425 Alternative Radiological Source Terms for Evaluating Design-Basis Accidents at Nuclear Power Reactors N/A 24 Month Fuel Cycle

  • Approved by NRC-A version pending
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