Only two years ago, the 2,256 MWe twin unit Diablo Canyon Power Plant (DCPP) located near Avila Beach in central California was headed for dismantling and decommissioning. Today, it is a beacon of optimism for the renaissance of nuclear energy, with a major program to refurbish and extend the plant’s service life already well underway. The two units produce a total of 18,000 gigawatt-hours of clean and reliable electricity annually. This is enough energy to meet the needs of more than 3 million Californians (nearly 10% of California’s energy portfolio, 20% of California’s clean energy supply, and 53% of the power that PG&E provides throughout its service area). The plant also sustains thousands of high paying jobs and millions of dollars to the local economy. A vivid symbol of Diablo Canyon’s resurgence is the convoy of trucks (pictured on this page) delivering 12 HI-STORM systems that will be installed at Diablo Canyon’s on-site storage facility this summer raising the site’s total number of casks safely storing spent nuclear fuel to 70.
Diablo Canyon uses a site-specific license to store anchored HI-STORM systems which are specifically designed for the strongest possible earthquake in the continental U.S. Delivery of the 12 HI-STORM 100 Cask Systems was accomplished in record time and without any safety issues. Holtec’s Camden, NJ, Orrvilon, OH, and Pittsburgh, PA plants collaborated in the manufacturing and delivery of all multi-purpose canisters and HI-STORMs to Diablo Canyon which was accomplished in less than 14 months from contract authorization; in comparison to 24 to 36 months typically needed for a project of such scope and complexity.
The significance of this success was best articulated by PG&E’s Vice President at Diablo Canyon, Maureen Zawalick, who said “I am proud of the collective effort demonstrated by my team and Holtec to safely manufacture and deliver the HI-STORM systems ahead of schedule, and I appreciate Holtec’s partnership and assistance to PG&E’s program to continue to safely store used fuel at our site. Holtec’s efforts are supportive of PG&E’s commitment to keep DCPP online ensuring electricity reliability as California continues toward its clean energy future.”
Adding his comments on the collective success, Holtec’s President of Project Management, Manufacturing and Supply Chain, P.K. Chaudhary commented, “We value the relationship with PG&E and the opportunity to contribute to DCPP’s mission of providing carbon-free electricity to California. The Holtec team commits to applying the same level of attention to personal and nuclear safety during the upcoming loading campaign that we apply during design and manufacturing.”
The HI-STORM storage system is among the most earthquake-resistant above-ground structures installed in the world. In contrast to most nuclear sites in the world, Diablo Canyon’s storage casks are deeply anchored in a seven feet thick “base mat” (please see photo of the storage facility with casks’ anchoring system in view).
PG&E filed an application on November 7, 2023, with the U.S. NRC, seeking to extend the two units’ operating licenses by an additional 20 years beyond the expiration of their current licenses (2024 and 2025, respectively). DCPP has an excellent safety operating record, and the NRC’s current assessment places it among the highest performing plants in the nation. Every day, Diablo Canyon produces enough safe, reliable, and affordable clean electricity to meet the energy needs of more than three million Californians, all while producing zero greenhouse gas emissions.
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