The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved a Licence Amendment Request for US Constellation’s Limerick Clean Energy Centre’s Digital Modernisation Project. This is a first‑of‑its‑kind upgrade across major control and protection systems that will enhance reliability, diagnostic capability and cyber resilience. The Limerick Clean Energy Centre in Pennsylvania comprises two 1,130 MWe boiling water reactors commissioned in 1986 and 1990. They are licensed to operate until 2044 and 2049.
The $167m Digital Modernisation Project replaces select analogue instrumentation and control equipment with state‑of‑the‑art digital platforms designed to improve equipment monitoring, provide a broader range of automation and support additional operational flexibility with enhanced reliability. These upgrades will help Limerick deliver around‑the‑clock, carbon‑free electricity to power homes, businesses and new data‑driven industries that are creating jobs in the region. This is the first large-scale demonstration of a digital safety system upgrade at an operating nuclear plant, supported by the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Light Water Reactor Sustainability Program.
“Every dollar we invest to enhance and modernise the nation’s largest nuclear fleet will pay dividends for American families and businesses by creating jobs, keeping costs down, improving reliability and adding much-needed capacity to fuel economic growth,” said Joe Dominguez, President and CEO of Constellation. “With continued support from the Department of Energy, we are investing in our workforce and new state-of-the-art technologies to power the future.”
The Digital Modernisation Project installation will be done in phases and carefully managed to ensure safety and operational continuity. Physical installation of the digital control rooms is planned to occur during upcoming refuelling outages. Limerick will welcome thousands of additional skilled craft workers to support the work, providing a boost to the local economy.
Constellation says the Digital Modernisation Project will “enhance reliability, diagnostic capability and cyber resilience” and “improve equipment monitoring, provide a broader range of automation and support additional operational flexibility with enhanced reliability”.
