Browns Ferry Uprate: A Big Duh

These plants can basically only maintain operation of their plants with the current resources. This is going to dilute their technical people resources leading to future poor performance. Everyone knows natural gas is going to continuously challenge grid low prices. They are going to replace or update only 2% of the equipment...the vast amount components won't be changed out.

I believe they can see the operation of this facility is under threat with low electric prices. This is a typical last stand ploy by the dummy utility. It is a waste of money. They are updating 1960s technology. This is un-American.

This ploy as perceived by TVA is a matter of survival...its not in the best interest of the ratepayers.

It is very common outcome the plant permanently shuts down within 5 years of the uprate. Or it could be similar to Grand Gulf where the plant never gets to the capacity factor the plant had prior to the uprate. This guy is getting a haircut with three plants at the same time...  

Browns Ferry nuke plant to increase power output

• By Evan Belanger Staff Writer
• Aug 17, 2017 Updated 6 hrs ago

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Wednesday approved a TVA request to increase the power-generating capacity of the Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant in Limestone County.
The uprate will allow the nuclear plant to increase its power-generating capacity by 14.3 percent by increasing the maximum operating temperature of each of the plant’s three reactors and upgrading related systems.
In a statement, the NRC said staff had reviewed the Tennessee Valley Authority’s evaluations showing the plant “can handle the increased power level” and that NRC had conducted an independent confirmation of the calculations.
“The NRC staff determined that TVA could safely increase the reactors’ output primarily by upgrading certain plants systems and components,” the NRC said in a statement.
The NRC assessment focused on nuclear steam supply systems, instrumentation and control systems, and accident evaluations.
TVA spokesman Jim Hopson said the uprate would enable the plant to produce an additional 450 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 200,000 homes.
“It’s a significant output in power,” he said...