Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant

Last updated
Harris Nuclear Plant
Shearon Harris Unit 1.jpg
Shearon Harris Unit 1
Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant
Official nameHarris Nuclear Plant
CountryUnited States
Location New Hill, Wake County, North Carolina
Coordinates 35°38.0′N78°57.3′W / 35.6333°N 78.9550°W / 35.6333; -78.9550
StatusOperational
Construction beganJanuary 28, 1978 (1978-01-28)
Commission date May 2, 1987
Construction cost$4.115 billion (2007 USD) [1]
Owner(s) Duke Energy
Operator(s) Duke Energy
Nuclear power station
Reactor type PWR
Reactor supplier Westinghouse
Cooling towers1 × Natural Draft
Cooling source Harris Lake
Thermal capacity1 × 2900 MWth
Power generation
Units operational1 × 928 MW
Make and model WH 3-loop (DRYAMB)
Units cancelled3 × 900 MW
2 × 1117 MW AP1000
Nameplate capacity 928 MW
Capacity factor 101% (2017)
89.0% (lifetime)
Annual net output 7986 GWh (2021)
External links
Website Harris Nuclear Plant Fact Sheet
Commons Related media on Commons
[ edit on Wikidata]

The Harris Nuclear Plant is a nuclear power plant with a single Westinghouse designed pressurized-water nuclear reactor operated by Duke Energy. It was named in honor of W. Shearon Harris, former president of Carolina Power & Light (predecessor of Progress Energy Inc.). [2] Located in New Hill, North Carolina, in the United States, about 20 miles (30 km) southwest of Raleigh, it generates 900  MWe, has a 523-foot (160 m) natural draft cooling tower, and uses Harris Lake for cooling. The reactor achieved criticality in January 1987 and began providing power commercially on May 2 of that year.

Contents

The Shearon Harris site was originally designed for four reactors (and still has the space available for them), but only one was built. The final cost approached $3.9B, including safety upgrades mandated after the Three Mile Island accident.

On November 16, 2006, the operator applied to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a renewal and extension of the plant's operating license. [3] The NRC granted the renewal on December 17, 2008, extending the license from forty years to sixty. [4]

Refurbished generator from Three Mile Island

On January 22, 2010, officials at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the electrical generator from the damaged Unit 2 reactor at Three Mile Island would be used at Shearon Harris. [5] The generator was refurbished and installed during a refueling outage in November, 2010.

Units 2 & 3

On February 19, 2008 Progress filed an application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL). It seeks to build two 1,100 MWe Westinghouse AP1000 pressurized water reactors. Although the NRC had already certified the AP1000 design, the application review was expected to take about 36 months. The new reactors would not be operational before 2018. [6]

Expansion of the plant would require raising the water level of Harris Lake by 20 feet, [7] decreasing the size of Wake County's largest park, with the Cape Fear River as a backup water source.

On May 2, 2013, Duke submitted a request to the NRC to suspend review of the Harris Units 2 and 3 Combined License Application (COLA), effectively halting further development of this project. [8] Duke has determined the forecast operating dates of the proposed reactors falls outside the fifteen-year planning horizon utilized by state regulators in their demonstration of need evaluation. The COLA remains docketed, however, leaving the door open for Duke to restart activities. [9]

Electricity Production

Generation ( MWh ) of Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant [10]
YearJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecAnnual (Total)
2001651,550587,897650,961600,053641,046612,514633,035632,278392,127-7,612-7,423-17,9305,368,496
2002596,616605,885692,186664,354685,426656,254587,765633,905657,210687,635670,898696,9227,835,056
2003697,798628,360692,040550,040200,220585,862675,487566,282586,953690,227668,416695,4197,237,104
2004696,104651,056691,524640,461378,332655,523674,118676,491658,386324,248268,635693,5507,008,428
2005691,938627,883693,146663,595577,180654,438670,675671,369652,216669,072664,739694,5777,930,828
2006691,473624,282689,215144,735256,719651,468665,897665,520588,819689,625669,468692,0477,029,268
2007691,771626,054685,273660,878678,022648,431666,547661,605600,239137,065667,641679,5247,403,050
2008692,158644,233684,058661,179679,592648,293672,513436,426656,281686,147668,900691,6317,821,411
2009693,809624,890688,165342,241441,456659,020680,311678,090657,569689,492551,057697,0617,403,161
2010690,254632,140695,980666,054685,081654,660677,181677,639653,80211,904336,596699,3247,080,615
2011695,889622,800697,118668,969685,747657,595676,763678,847661,806693,847675,050697,6968,112,127
2012700,273654,589692,354421,429-7,575461,809691,734698,837681,896711,705692,239715,0757,114,365
2013716,430638,321692,542683,333324,651512,112696,829645,140656,853708,893175,051438,2086,888,363
2014606,998645,639714,360684,365535,765670,317696,617698,502678,978709,000692,342715,6928,048,575
2015716,758650,304712,10615,096333,847671,653695,019696,555677,127706,975692,525704,2127,272,177
2016716,122673,699712,660687,985706,362676,975695,043696,569672,401136,077416,053723,1057,513,051
2017721,046643,988717,641688,333709,239680,788698,805701,133674,279556,960697,080719,2818,208,573
2018593,388643,338715,370128,815459,520701,420724,583723,583701,214733,607721,164741,9127,587,914
2019744,045669,919737,793704,407720,979691,860708,692710,988687,739221,209268,342744,6217,610,594
2020743,483694,486677,007716,207735,529621,287716,872649,871702,747732,024715,179570,9018,275,593
2021741,049668,251740,789529,499364,993605,624721,395719,843702,654732,369720,298739,9697,986,733
2022745,709670,409739,405671,858725,765699,163716,382647,562005,616,253
2023

Reactor data

Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant control room.jpg

The Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant consists of one operational reactor. Three additional units were cancelled. Two additional reactors were planned and cancelled in 2013. [11]

Reactor unit [12] Reactor typeCapacity(MW)Construction startedElectricity grid connectionCommercial operationShutdown
NetGross
Shearon Harris-1Westinghouse 3-loop90096028 January 197819 January 19872 May 1987
Shearon Harris-2 [12] 1 January 1978Cancelled construction on 1 December 1983
Shearon Harris-3 [13] Cancelled construction on 1 December 1981
Shearon Harris-4 [14]
Shearon Harris-2 (cancelled)AP10001117 ?
Shearon Harris-3 (cancelled)

Safety

Nuclear Regulatory Commission inspections

As of September 2017, the Harris plant is one of three out of the 99 plants in the country to have no Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) findings during the past 4 quarters of inspections. [15]

The NRC's risk estimate for an earthquake intense enough to cause core damage to the reactor at Shearon Harris was 1 in 434,783, according to an NRC study published in August 2010. [16] [17]

Surrounding population

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission defines two emergency planning zones around nuclear power plants: a plume exposure pathway zone with a radius of 10 miles (16 km), concerned primarily with exposure to, and inhalation of, airborne radioactive contamination, and an ingestion pathway zone of about 50 miles (80 km), concerned primarily with ingestion of food and liquid contaminated by radioactivity. [18]

The 2010 U.S. population within 10 miles (16 km) of Shearon Harris was 96,401, an increase of 62.6 percent in a decade, according to an analysis of U.S. Census data for msnbc.com. The 2010 U.S. population within 50 miles (80 km) was 2,562,573, an increase of 26.0 percent since 2000. Cities within 50 miles include Raleigh (21 miles to city center), Durham (24 miles to city center), and Fayetteville (39 miles to city center). [19]

During FEMA's most recent evaluation of state and local government's plans and preparedness included emergency operations for the plant, no deficiencies or areas requiring corrective actions were identified. [20]

NC-WARN concerns

The anti-nuclear group "N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network" (NC-WARN) questioned the facility's safety and security record calling it "insufficient" and claiming "it is the most dangerous nuclear plant in the US". [21] [22] However, the plant's technical and security systems have passed all Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) standards [23] as of 2008, including protection and security, and no worker or area resident has been injured as a result of the plant's operation.

Spent fuel pools

In 2010, Project Censored, a non-profit, investigative journalism project, ranked the safety issues at Shearon Harris the 4th most under-reported story of the year, because of the risk of fires at what are the largest spent-fuel pools in the country. [24]

In August 2007, NC WARN dropped a lawsuit against Progress Energy that was intended to delay or prevent expansion of Shearon Harris, claiming that continuing the legal battle would cost at least $200,000. [25]

Shutdown

On May 16, 2013, Shearon Harris Unit 1 initiated an unplanned shutdown when reviews of ultrasonic data from a refueling outage in spring 2012 determined a 1/4" flaw was inside the 6"-thick Reactor Pressure Vessel Head. The flaw was near the nozzle for a control rod drive mechanism and attributed to primary water stress corrosion cracking, though no actual leakage was detected. Due to high radiation levels, the repairs required robotic aid. [26]

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References

  1. ↑ "EIA - State Nuclear Profiles". www.eia.gov. Archived from the original on 18 November 2019. Retrieved 3 October 2017.
  2. ↑ "NC Business Hall of Fame – Shearon Harris". historync.org. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2011-05-04.
  3. ↑ "Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant – License Renewal Application". Operating Reactor Licensing. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). December 1, 2008. Archived from the original on 2009-01-18. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  4. ↑ "Shearon Harris operating licence extended". World Nuclear News . December 18, 2008. Archived from the original on 2011-03-31. Retrieved 2009-01-06.
  5. ↑ "Three Mile Island generator moving to Shearon Harris". WRAL. 22 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-01-24. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
  6. ↑ "Submission for new nuclear at Harris". World Nuclear News . 19 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  7. ↑ Murawski, John (2007-09-20). "Progress prepares for new reactors". Raleigh News & Observer. Retrieved 2007-10-18.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2013-05-30.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ "Duke Energy suspends licensing for nuclear reactors near Raleigh". Charlotte Business Journal. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  10. ↑ "Electricity Data Browser". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2023-01-08.
  11. ↑ "Duke Energy shelves plans for new reactors at Shearon Harris -- The News & Observer". NC WARN. 2013-05-02. Archived from the original on 2020-07-10. Retrieved 2020-07-07.
  12. 1 2 "PRIS – Home". iaea.org. Archived from the original on 2012-02-11. Retrieved 2011-08-17.
  13. ↑ Power Reactor Information System Archived 2012-02-11 at the Wayback Machine of the IAEA: Nuclear Power Reactor Details – SHEARON HARRIS-3 Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ↑ Power Reactor Information System Archived 2012-02-11 at the Wayback Machine of the IAEA: Nuclear Power Reactor Details – SHEARON HARRIS-4 Archived 2011-06-04 at the Wayback Machine
  15. ↑ "Inspection Findings". NRC.gov. 2021-12-22. Archived from the original on 2021-10-30. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  16. ↑ Bill Dedman, "What are the odds? US nuke plants ranked by quake risk," NBC News , March 17, 2011 https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42103936 Archived 2021-01-10 at the Wayback Machine Accessed April 19, 2011.
  17. ↑ Patrick Hiland (September 2, 2010). "Implications of Updated Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Estimates in Central and Eastern United States on Existing Plants" (PDF). Safety/Risk Assessment Panel for Generic Issue 199. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2011.
  18. ↑ "NRC: Backgrounder on Emergency Preparedness for Nuclear Power Plants". Archived from the original on 2006-10-02. Retrieved 2012-02-08.
  19. ↑ Bill Dedman, Nuclear neighbors: Population rises near US reactors, NBC News , April 14, 2011 https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna42555888 Archived 2020-10-30 at the Wayback Machine Accessed May 1, 2011.
  20. ↑ "FEMA, Transmittal of Final Report for 11/29/2011, Shearon Harris Nuclear Plant Exercise" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-01-20. Retrieved 2022-02-26.
  21. ↑ "NC WARN » The Most Dangerous U.S. N-Plant? NRC's Dishonest Rating System – A Report by NC WARN". ncwarn.org. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
  22. ↑ Sturgis, Sue (2006-03-29). "The Report is Bullshit". The Independent Weekly. Archived from the original on 2008-10-06. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  23. ↑ "4Q/2014 Performance Summary – Harris 1". nrc.gov. Archived from the original on 2017-03-19. Retrieved 2017-06-25.
  24. ↑ "4. Nuclear Waste Pools in North Carolina". Project Censored. Archived from the original on 2010-07-25.
  25. ↑ Murawski, John (2007-08-21). "Nuclear license fight dropped". Raleigh News & Observer. Archived from the original on 2007-08-24. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  26. ↑ Murawski, John (2013-05-16). "Shearon Harris nuclear power plant shutdown because of cracking". The News & Observer. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
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