PPL Extends Nuclear Feasibility Study to Kentucky

PPL Corporation is expanding its nuclear feasibility study at the Ghent power plant site, exploring new locations and partnerships for nuclear energy.

Share:

PPL Étend l'Étude de Faisabilité Nucléaire au Kentucky.

U.S. utility PPL Corporation has announced the expansion of its nuclear feasibility study to the Ghent coal-fired power plant site in Kentucky. This initiative aims to explore additional locations and potential partnerships to support the development of nuclear power in the state.

Project contextualization

The Ghent plant is a four-unit, coal-fired facility with a combined net capacity of 1919 MW, scheduled for phased decommissioning. The plant is located close to a number of electricity-consuming industrial companies, which could represent potential customers for the process heat generated by the nuclear reactors. PPL owns around 2,300 acres of land around the Ghent site, offering significant development potential.

Partnership with GAIN and X-energy

The previous study, funded by a grant from the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) program, concluded that the Ghent site is suitable for a small modular reactor (SMR). However, size constraints have been identified for the installation of larger conventional reactors. PPL plans to collaborate again with GAIN and nuclear engineering company X-energy for the next phase of the evaluation.

Technical features and opportunities

X-energy offers its Xe-100 advanced reactor model, a Generation IV reactor design based on decades of research and operation of high-temperature reactors. This reactor, designed to operate as a 320 MW power plant or to be modulated into 80 MW units, is designed to provide reliable, adaptable energy to complement renewable sources. The Xe-100, producing 200 MW of steam at 565°C, is also suitable for other industrial applications, such as mining and heavy industry.

Objectives of the Second Phase

Phase two of the study aims to explore alternative locations and industry partnerships that would enable energy-intensive customers, including manufacturers and data centers, to maintain the reliability and affordability of their energy supply. According to Vincent Sorgi, President and CEO of PPL, nuclear energy represents a potential solution for meeting customer needs while supporting industrial growth. PPL’s expansion of the nuclear feasibility study to the Ghent site and beyond demonstrates a strategic commitment to the diversification of energy production. Working with technical partners such as GAIN and X-energy, PPL is rigorously evaluating the options available for integrating modular nuclear reactors into their energy mix, thereby meeting the growing demands of the energy market.

Bahrain has concluded a civil nuclear agreement with the United States and formalised a commitment of $17bn in public investments in the US market, further strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Kairos Power has installed the vessel for its third test prototype in Oak Ridge, aiming to validate manufacturing methods for its future Hermes reactor supported by the US Department of Energy.
London and Prague formalise a strategic partnership to develop the nuclear sector, focusing on small modular reactors and industrial cooperation on supply chains.
Experts have broadly approved France’s Cigéo deep nuclear waste repository project, highlighting technical uncertainties that demand stronger guarantees for long-term safety.
Uzbekistan advances its nuclear project by signing a protocol with Hungary for the supply and local assembly of dry cooling systems, expanding its industrial partnerships in the region.
Polskie Elektrownie Jądrowe is asking the European Commission to review its $49bn investment to build Poland’s first nuclear power plant, a step required under the Euratom Treaty before any construction permit can be issued.
The International Atomic Energy Agency mission completed on July 11 warns that the National Nuclear Safety Administration must hire staff to oversee a fleet of 59 reactors in operation and 32 more under construction.
Energoatom signed strategic agreements with Westinghouse and Holtec at the Ukraine Recovery Conference, aiming to establish nuclear fuel production and small modular reactor capabilities in the country.
Tehran agrees to reopen its nuclear facilities to the IAEA, aiming to resume negotiations with Washington, while Moscow pushes for a “zero enrichment” agreement without getting involved in supervision.
TerraPower has selected three new American suppliers for its advanced Natrium nuclear reactor, confirming progress on the project located in Kemmerer, Wyoming, intended to replace a retiring coal-fired power plant.
Energy Exploration Technologies acquires Daytona Lithium, an Australian subsidiary of Pantera Lithium, for AUD40mn ($27mn), bringing its strategic lithium basin footprint in Smackover, USA to nearly 50,000 acres.
The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission has identified no major barriers to licensing the ARC-100 reactor, announces ARC Clean Technology.
SE Ignalina, the Lithuanian nuclear operator, has signed a memorandum of understanding with French firm Newcleo to explore the integration of small modular reactors (SMRs) using lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR) technology in Lithuania.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi oversaw the signing of new agreements for the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, thus strengthening the strategic cooperation between Egypt and Russia.
Vistra Corp receives green light to extend Perry nuclear plant operations in Ohio by 20 years, securing regional electricity supply until 2046 and ensuring operational continuity for all its nuclear reactors in the United States.
EDF will hold a 12.5% stake in the Sizewell C nuclear project in the UK, a €1.3 billion investment announced during Emmanuel Macron’s official visit to London, confirming the strategic nuclear energy alignment between the two countries.
The French Cigéo project, designed to bury the most hazardous radioactive waste deep underground, obtains a crucial technical validation before its final authorization, expected by the end of 2027.
EDF confirms the continuation of its industrial project in Fessenheim for recycling very low-level radioactive metals, a first in France requiring specific regulatory authorizations, following a public debate concluded last February.
NANO Nuclear Energy Inc. formalizes its collaboration with UrAmerica Ltd. to strengthen Argentina’s uranium supply, aiming to secure future nuclear fuel supply chains for the U.S. market.
American companies SHINE Technologies and Standard Nuclear partner to recycle uranium and plutonium, supplying advanced fuel to the nuclear reactor sector and enhancing the national energy security of the United States.