Uprate planned for Fort Calhoun

Tuesday, 17 February 2009

Omaha Public Power District (OPPD) will uprate its Fort Calhoun nuclear power plant by almost 16% as part of the company's plan to increase its baseload power supply.
 

Fort Calhoun (Image: OPPD)

According to OPPD, the project represents the lowest-cost option to the district for additional baseload power. Engineers project that significant equipment replacements and upgrades will be needed to implement the project, which will add some 75 MWe at Fort Calhoun.
 
OPPD's board of directors has voted to authorize management to negotiate and enter into contracts for equipment replacements, necessary upgrades and possible new equipment. The estimated cost of the various contracts is just over $9.3 million.

 
In addition, OPPD's board has also authorized management to negotiate and award a contract to Invensys Process Systems to replace Fort Calhoun's turbine control system. The estimated value of the contract for replacement of the necessary hardware and software is $2.8 million.
 
OPPD spokesman Mike Jones told the Associated Press that the total project cost was estimated at $192 million and was expected to be completed in 2012.
 
Fort Calhoun is a 482 MWe (net) pressurized water reactor (PWR) which began commercial operation in September 1973. The operating licence for Fort Calhoun was renewed for a further 20 years, until August 2033, by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in November 2003.