Covert Township, Michigan, October 21, 2026: In a remarkable demonstration of technical ingenuity and precision manufacturing, Holtec has successfully recovered the tilted fuel assembly at its Palisades Nuclear Power Plant using a purpose-built Fuel Movement Device conceived, engineered, manufactured, and delivered by the company in just two weeks. Accomplished safely and error-free, the technically demanding recovery removed a significant obstacle to the historic restart of Palisades.
The effort brought together Holtec personnel in Camden, New Jersey, responsible for engineering design; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where specialized equipment was manufactured; and the Palisades plant, where personnel managed the licensing process, conducted preparations, completed training, and executed the recovery. The on-site effort also drew upon the expertise and contributions of skilled tradespeople and supporting vendor organizations. Working on an accelerated schedule, Holtec’s teams transformed a specialized engineering concept into precision-manufactured equipment ready for field deployment, demonstrating the strength of the company’s vertically integrated engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
At the center of the recovery was Holtec’s specially designed Fuel Movement Device (FMD), developed to support the controlled lifting and transfer of the tilted assembly. The device, together with a custom-engineered fuel transfer canister, provided a solution to a fuel-handling challenge that could not be addressed using conventional refueling equipment. Using the FMD, the on-site recovery team carefully lifted the fuel assembly from its position within the reactor vessel and placed it into the Fuel Transfer Canister. The canister lid was installed and secured within the reactor cavity before the canister was safely transferred to the plant’s spent fuel pool, where the recovered assembly is now stored. The operation was supported by extensive engineering evaluations, equipment testing, detailed execution planning, and disciplined performance by the recovery team.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved a License Amendment Request submitted by Holtec authorizing the specialized recovery methodology. The approval followed a rigorous technical review, exemplifying the NRC’s mission to enable the safe deployment of civilian nuclear energy technologies through efficient and reliable licensing and oversight. Holtec recognizes the NRC staff’s extensive technical engagement throughout the review process.
Holtec has decades of experience developing and deploying specialized solutions for nuclear fuel handling, storage, and management, including the management of challenging fuel conditions at nuclear facilities in the United States and internationally. That experience provided the technical foundation for the specialized recovery approach developed at Palisades. The successful deployment of the FMD adds another significant accomplishment to Holtec’s record of addressing complex nuclear fuel challenges.
“When we encounter a challenge, what matters is how we respond,” said Fadi Diya, Holtec International’s Chief Nuclear Officer. “Our team approached this recovery with the same commitment to safety, technical rigor, and teamwork that has guided our work throughout the restart. We developed a solution, executed it safely and error-free, and demonstrated the depth of expertise across our organization. I’m proud of this team and grateful for the dedication they bring to Palisades every day.”
With the recovery complete, the Palisades team continues its progression toward the plant’s return to service, including the completion of fuel loading, required testing, inspections, and operational readiness activities. Palisades will resume operations when all required work is complete and all applicable federal requirements and industry standards are met.
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