Duke Energy’s Oconee Nuclear Station in South Carolina has received approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a 20-year license renewal. This decision extends the plant’s operation into the 2050s, making it the company’s first nuclear facility to reach an 80-year operational milestone.
The Oconee plant, Duke Energy’s largest nuclear power facility, with a total capacity of more than 2500 MWe, houses three pressurized water reactors. The company says that it generates 2,554 megawatts, which is enough to power
more than 1.9 million homes.
The first two units were connected to the grid in 1973, followed by the third in 1974. These reactors were initially licensed for operation until the early 2030s.
However, with the NRC’s recent decision, their licenses now extend to February 2053 and October 2053 for units 1 and 2, and July 2054 for unit 3.
Duke Energy submitted the license renewal application in June 2021. The NRC conducted a two-track review process, releasing a safety evaluation report in December 2022 and a final environmental impact statement in February 2025.
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“The NRC’s Atomic Safety and Licensing Board terminated the adjudicatory proceeding regarding the application in January 2025, concluding that no contested matters remained before it for resolution,” the NRC stated.
“The Board’s decision has been appealed to the Commission. NRC regulations allow the licenses to be issued while an appeal is pending. The Commission retains the ability to act on the appeal and, as needed, direct additional staff action on the licenses.”
With this approval, Duke Energy moves closer to its goal of operating its nuclear plants for up to 80 years. All of its nuclear facilities have already received initial license renewals for 60 years of operation, and the company plans to extend each to 80 years where possible. Next on Duke Energy’s agenda is a similar application for the Robinson nuclear plant in Hartsville, South Carolina.
Duke Energy’s clean energy goals
Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet plays a crucial role in its clean energy strategy. The company operates reactors at six locations across North and South Carolina, including the Oconee plant. In 2024, these plants provided over 50 percent of the electricity consumed by Carolina customers and accounted for 96 percent of Duke Energy’s carbon-free power generation.
“Approval to extend Oconee Nuclear Station’s licenses is a significant milestone for Duke Energy and provides significant learnings to use in completing license applications for our other plants,” stated Kelvin Henderson, Duke Energy’s Chief Nuclear Officer.
“As we address growth, modernize the fleet, and invest in cleaner technologies, subsequent license renewal helps ensure nuclear energy continues to be a vital part of Duke Energy’s generation portfolio.”
The company sees nuclear power as essential for meeting its climate goals, which include cutting carbon emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Keeping its reactors running will help maintain grid reliability while supporting the transition to cleaner energy.
So far, 12 U.S. reactors have received approval for 80-year operation. The NRC is reviewing applications for five more. Initially, U.S. reactors were licensed for 40 years, based on economic rather than technological limitations. An initial renewal extends their lifespan to 60 years, while a subsequent renewal pushes the limit to 80 years.
