Constellation plans massive nuclear upgrade

Constellation, the largest US nuclear operator, announced plans to add nearly a gigawatt of new capacity across eleven existing reactors at six plants.

Department of Energy backs Vistra upgrades

On October fifth, the Department of Energy awarded a four point two billion dollar loan to Vistra for previously announced upgrades at three plants.

What is a power uprate?

A power uprate allows nuclear reactors to reach higher capacity by upgrading equipment. Minor uprates involve changes to instrument setpoints, while major ones can boost power by as much as twenty percent.

Uprates were common, then rare, now returning

Between two thousand one and two thousand ten, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved over eighty uprates.Between two thousand eleven and two thousand twenty, the number was thirty three.Rising AI demand has reversed the trend.

Tech companies are funding the upgrades

Google agreed to buy electricity from Constellation plants in a twenty year agreement, a major factor in making uprates happen. Meta signed a long term deal for Vistra power.

“These are capital intensive, labor intensive projects that require a different price point than the market trades at, frankly.”

Uprates are cheaper than new reactors

Constellation's four point three billion dollar project is less expensive per kilowatt than building a new reactor, but more expensive than building new solar farms with storage or natural gas plants.

Uprates cannot meet total demand

The US nuclear fleet has roughly ninety eight gigawatts of capacity. Between three and eight additional gigawatts are possible from uprates. PJM expects thirty gigawatts of additional peak demand from AI by two thousand thirty.

New reactors will eventually be needed

Uprates are a relatively easy win for zero emissions power, but meeting all AI driven demand will eventually require actually building new reactors, not just upgrading existing ones.