Topic
Operations & Safety
The operating fleet is nuclear's foundation: life extensions to 60 and 80 years, uprates, restarts and the safety rulemaking that governs them. NNN reports the operational decisions keeping reactors on the grid — and the standards bodies, like INPO, that new entrants are now joining.
The 7 nuclear stories that mattered this week
TVA won a landmark SMR construction permit as US-Korea reactor plans, Holtec's Palisades application and new projects shaped a pivotal week in nuclear energy.
The 8 nuclear stories that mattered this week
Palisades' fuel-loading pause, a major US reactor-project split, and new milestones in Europe, Canada and Asia shaped this week's nuclear news.
Fuel assembly incident pauses Palisades loading
Holtec paused fuel loading at Palisades after a used assembly tilted in the reactor vessel; all 204 assemblies must be loaded before startup can advance.
Ontario awards C$3 billion in Pickering refurbishment contracts
Ontario has started Pickering refurbishment construction and awarded C$3 billion in contracts for Unit 5 work and turbine-generator replacements.
The 6 nuclear stories that mattered this week
From a $100B-plus Korea-US reactor package to a Duane Arnold restart and Zaporizhzhia's grid return, this week's nuclear story was execution.
Zaporizhzhia plant reconnected to grid after IAEA ceasefire repairs
IAEA: Zaporizhzhia NPP back on Ukraine's grid after 7th ceasefire repaired the 330 kV Ferosplavna-1 line, ending an 18-day diesel outage.
Zaporizhzhia power line repairs resume under 7th IAEA ceasefire
A seventh IAEA-brokered ceasefire from Sept 5 allows repairs on Zaporizhzhia's sole off-site line, the plant's 26th blackout since the war began.
The 8 nuclear stories that mattered this week
Palisades loads fuel as the NRC flags restart lapses, Rosatom signs Kazakhstan's first EPC, Tennessee licenses fusion and US uranium output triples.
NRC finds two Green radiation-safety lapses during Palisades restart
The NRC issued two Green, non-cited violations to Holtec's Palisades plant over airborne contamination and missed dose evaluations during restart work.
Counter-drone defense, explained: how energy sites fight drones
Counter-UAS systems detect, track and defeat hostile drones. How the technology works, who builds it, and why energy infrastructure is the new front line.
Palisades fuel loading: Holtec restart timeline and what comes next
Holtec began loading fuel at Palisades, moving the 805-MWe reactor to Mode 6. Inspections and startup tests ahead of the first US restart from shutdown.
The 6 nuclear stories that mattered this week
This week's six consequential nuclear stories span U.S. defense microreactors, a 13-project DOE fast track, European construction and climate-linked operations.
Paks returns two reactors to nominal power as Danube rises
Hungary's Paks nuclear plant returned Units 1 and 3 to nominal power after low Danube levels constrained cooling water, restoring two of four reactors.
The 6 nuclear stories that mattered this week
TerraPower's guaranteed-price reactor fleet, Cernavoda's drought shutdown, Spain's phase-out retreat and Aalo's criticality push made a week about bankability.
Cernavoda shuts both reactors as Danube falls below cooling threshold
Romania shut both Cernavoda reactors after the Danube fell below the plant's 185-centimetre operating threshold, cutting nuclear output during drought.
Jellyfish Take Three Gravelines Reactors Offline
EDF shut three Gravelines reactors after jellyfish clogged cooling-water pumps, leaving one of six units at full power while a fourth ran at half output.
Rosatom sends staff back to Iran's Bushehr plant
Rosatom has returned five specialists to Iran's Bushehr site, bringing its Russian staff to 25 as work continues on two new VVER-1000 units.
Zaporizhzhia raises spent-fuel pool water levels
Zaporizhzhia's operators are raising spent-fuel pool water levels after 24 off-site power losses, buying more time if diesel supplies run out.
The 7 nuclear stories that mattered this week
From China's eight-reactor approval to Zaporizhzhia's power risk, this week's nuclear news was about turning plans, fuel and regulation into operating reality.
OPG seeks licence to operate first G7 small modular reactor
Ontario Power Generation has applied for a 20-year licence to operate the first BWRX-300 at Darlington — set to be the first SMR running in a G7 nation.
