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Coordinates: 34°42′31″N 85°55′45″W / 34.7086°N 85.9292°W / 34.7086; -85.9292
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The '''Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station''' is a partially completed nuclear power plant located in [[Hollywood, Alabama]]. A total of four reactors have been proposed over a period of 40 years, and billions of dollars have been spent, but no electricity has yet been produced. The site has sat idle for more than 20 years and some spare parts have been taken from the two incomplete units. The [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] is now proposing to restart construction of the Bellefonte Unit 1 reactor.
'''Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station''' owned by the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] is located in [[Hollywood, Alabama]].


==Units 1 and 2==
The two partially built 1,256 [[megawatt]] (MWe) [[pressurized water reactor]]s on the site were made by [[Babcock and Wilcox]] and are called a 205&nbsp;design due to the number of fuel assemblies in the core. These units are of the same design as [[WNP-1 and WNP-4|WNP-1]] which is also unfinished, and as the [[Mülheim-Kärlich Nuclear Power Plant|Mulheim Karlich]]&nbsp;A reactor in Germany that operated for three years and proved the design. Unit&nbsp;1 was 88%&nbsp;complete and Unit&nbsp;2 was 58% when development was suspended in 1988 after a $6&nbsp;billion investment. Subsequent [[asset recovery]] activities, along with more recent inspections of remaining equipment, resulted in BLN 1&2 now being considered approximately 55 percent and 35 percent complete, respectively.<ref>http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-19045.htm</ref>
The Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station site is owned by the [[Tennessee Valley Authority]] is located in [[Hollywood, Alabama]]. The two partially built 1,256 [[megawatt]] (MWe) [[pressurized water reactor]]s on the site were made by [[Babcock and Wilcox]] and are called a 205&nbsp;design due to the number of fuel assemblies in the core. These units are of the same design as [[WNP-1 and WNP-4|WNP-1]] which is also unfinished, and as the [[Mülheim-Kärlich Nuclear Power Plant|Mulheim Karlich]]&nbsp;A reactor in Germany that operated for three years and proved the design. Unit&nbsp;1 was 88%&nbsp;complete and Unit&nbsp;2 was 58% when development was suspended in 1988 after a $6&nbsp;billion investment. Subsequent [[asset recovery]] activities, along with more recent inspections of remaining equipment, resulted in BLN 1&2 now being considered approximately 55 percent and 35 percent complete, respectively.<ref>http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-19045.htm</ref>
Although the construction permits were terminated on September&nbsp;15, 2006, TVA is investigating completion of these first two units with operation projected to start Unit 1 in 2017 and Unit 2 in 2021. In August 2008 TVA asked the NRC to reinstate the construction permits as part of the restart evaluation. This request was granted by the NRC on February 9, 2009, albeit as a terminated application which required significant inspection of all systems to bring the license to the deferred stage. The status was upgraded January 14, 2010 to deferred.<ref>http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2010/10-012.html</ref>
Although the construction permits were terminated on September&nbsp;15, 2006, TVA is investigating completion of these first two units with operation projected to start Unit 1 in 2017 and Unit 2 in 2021. In August 2008 TVA asked the NRC to reinstate the construction permits as part of the restart evaluation. This request was granted by the NRC on February 9, 2009, albeit as a terminated application which required significant inspection of all systems to bring the license to the deferred stage. The status was upgraded January 14, 2010 to deferred.<ref>http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2010/10-012.html</ref>


==Units 3 and 4==
On September 22, 2005 it was announced that Bellefonte was also selected as the site for one or two [[AP1000]] [[pressurized water reactor]]s to be called Units&nbsp;3 and 4. TVA filed the necessary applications<ref>Tennessee Valley Authority Application for a Combined Licence</ref> in November 2007 to begin the design and construction process. For details, see [[Nuclear Power 2010 Program]].
On September 22, 2005 it was announced that Bellefonte was also selected as the site for one or two [[AP1000]] [[pressurized water reactor]]s to be called Units&nbsp;3 and 4. TVA filed the necessary applications<ref>Tennessee Valley Authority Application for a Combined Licence</ref> in November 2007 to begin the design and construction process. For details, see [[Nuclear Power 2010 Program]].


In August 2009, the Tennessee Valley Authority, faced with "falling electric sales and rising costs from cleaning up a massive [[Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill|coal ash spill in Tennessee]]", trimmed plans for the potential four-unit Bellefonte nuclear plant to one reactor.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009619802_apustvanuclear.html?syndication=rss TVA plan for Ala. nuclear plant drops to 1 reactor]</ref>
In August 2009, the Tennessee Valley Authority, faced with "falling electric sales and rising costs from cleaning up a massive [[Kingston Fossil Plant coal fly ash slurry spill|coal ash spill in Tennessee]]", trimmed plans for the potential four-unit Bellefonte nuclear plant to one reactor.<ref>[http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009619802_apustvanuclear.html?syndication=rss TVA plan for Ala. nuclear plant drops to 1 reactor]</ref>


==Recent developments==
On August 20, 2010 the TVA Board of Directors authorized $248 million to continue development of the Bellefonte Unit 1.<ref>[http://m.knoxnews.com/news/2010/aug/21/248m-okd-for-tva-site-in-ala/]</ref> Construction is expected to resume in 2011.<ref>[http://www.power-technology.com/projects/bellefontenuclearpla/ Power Technology: ''Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, Alabama, USA''.]</ref>
On August 20, 2010 the TVA Board of Directors authorized $248 million to continue development of the Bellefonte Unit 1.<ref>[http://m.knoxnews.com/news/2010/aug/21/248m-okd-for-tva-site-in-ala/]</ref> Construction is expected to resume in 2011.<ref>[http://www.power-technology.com/projects/bellefontenuclearpla/ Power Technology: ''Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, Alabama, USA''.]</ref>


Revision as of 06:57, 10 August 2011

Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station
Map
CountryUnited States
Coordinates34°42′31″N 85°55′45″W / 34.7086°N 85.9292°W / 34.7086; -85.9292
StatusProposed
Construction costUS$6 billion (Units 1 & 2)
OwnerTennessee Valley Authority
External links
CommonsRelated media on Commons
[edit on Wikidata]

The Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station is a partially completed nuclear power plant located in Hollywood, Alabama. A total of four reactors have been proposed over a period of 40 years, and billions of dollars have been spent, but no electricity has yet been produced. The site has sat idle for more than 20 years and some spare parts have been taken from the two incomplete units. The Tennessee Valley Authority is now proposing to restart construction of the Bellefonte Unit 1 reactor.

Units 1 and 2

The Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station site is owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority is located in Hollywood, Alabama. The two partially built 1,256 megawatt (MWe) pressurized water reactors on the site were made by Babcock and Wilcox and are called a 205 design due to the number of fuel assemblies in the core. These units are of the same design as WNP-1 which is also unfinished, and as the Mulheim Karlich A reactor in Germany that operated for three years and proved the design. Unit 1 was 88% complete and Unit 2 was 58% when development was suspended in 1988 after a $6 billion investment. Subsequent asset recovery activities, along with more recent inspections of remaining equipment, resulted in BLN 1&2 now being considered approximately 55 percent and 35 percent complete, respectively.[2] Although the construction permits were terminated on September 15, 2006, TVA is investigating completion of these first two units with operation projected to start Unit 1 in 2017 and Unit 2 in 2021. In August 2008 TVA asked the NRC to reinstate the construction permits as part of the restart evaluation. This request was granted by the NRC on February 9, 2009, albeit as a terminated application which required significant inspection of all systems to bring the license to the deferred stage. The status was upgraded January 14, 2010 to deferred.[3]

Units 3 and 4

On September 22, 2005 it was announced that Bellefonte was also selected as the site for one or two AP1000 pressurized water reactors to be called Units 3 and 4. TVA filed the necessary applications[4] in November 2007 to begin the design and construction process. For details, see Nuclear Power 2010 Program.

In August 2009, the Tennessee Valley Authority, faced with "falling electric sales and rising costs from cleaning up a massive coal ash spill in Tennessee", trimmed plans for the potential four-unit Bellefonte nuclear plant to one reactor.[5]

Recent developments

On August 20, 2010 the TVA Board of Directors authorized $248 million to continue development of the Bellefonte Unit 1.[6] Construction is expected to resume in 2011.[7]

The rough estimate to complete BLN 1 by itself is between $4.2 and $4.8 billion in 2010 dollars.

The authority estimates unit 1 could be generating power as early as 2020, as part of a plan to generate half its energy from "low or zero carbon-emitting sources" by then.[8]

  • Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station
    Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station
  • Bellefonte Nuclear in 2009
    Bellefonte Nuclear in 2009
  • Bellefonte Nuclear - Aerial
    Bellefonte Nuclear - Aerial

References

  1. ^ a b c NRC: Bellefonte Nuclear Site, Units 3 and 4 Application
  2. ^ http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-19045.htm
  3. ^ http://www.nrc.gov/reading-rm/doc-collections/news/2010/10-012.html
  4. ^ Tennessee Valley Authority Application for a Combined Licence
  5. ^ TVA plan for Ala. nuclear plant drops to 1 reactor
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ Power Technology: Bellefonte Nuclear Plant, Alabama, USA.
  8. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/business/energy-environment/16nuclear.html

Media related to Bellefonte Nuclear Generating Station at Wikimedia Commons

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