Exelon : Peach Bottom Unit 2 Reaches Generation Milestone

Equipment upgrades to power an additional 250,000 homes and businesses

Delta, PA - This weekend, Peach Bottom Unit 2 reached a new power generation milestone of 1,320 megawatts per hour, following the successful completion of an extended power uprate (EPU) that began in 2010. EPU projects are sanctioned by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and require extensive design reviews, as well as upgrades to plant components and safety systems.

"This milestone highlights Exelon's pioneering investments in modern equipment and new technologies to deliver additional carbon-free electricity for consumers," said Chris Mudrick, Exelon senior vice president for Mid-Atlantic operations. "It would not have been possible without years of hard work from the Peach Bottom team, supported by Exelon's corporate organization and thousands of skilled contractors."

Since 2010, Exelon has been working with the NRC to finalize the EPU design review and perform the equipment upgrades. Peach Bottom's EPU application called for replacing high and low-pressure turbines, steam dryers and main power transformers on both units. It also required overhauling the Unit 2 and Unit 3 generators and upgrading feed water pumps and motors. These upgrades require the skills of thousands of employees, contractors and technicians, many of whom support local businesses while in the area.

"The state-of-the-art equipment upgrades underway at Peach Bottom are making this safe and reliable facility even stronger and more efficient," said Mike Massaro, Peach Bottom site vice president. "As part of the power uprate project, we are replacing or enhancing key components site wide to ensure reliability and provide an additional margin of safety."

Peach Bottom's entire EPU project will be completed next year, after similar equipment upgrades are performed on Unit 3. At that time, the site will be generating safe and reliable power for an additional 250,000 regional homes and businesses. This represents a twelve percent increase in power generation with essentially no greenhouse gas emissions.

Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station is located on the west bank of the Conowingo Pond (Susquehanna River) in York County, Pa. The station is home to two boiling water reactors capable of generating 2,500 megawatts combined. Both reactors began commercial operation in 1974.

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