GEH is seeking to extend the design certification for 15 years beyond June 2012, when its original ABWR certification is set to expire.
The application includes an important design update to reflect the current NRC requirement for an aircraft impact assessment.
GEH senior vice president for nuclear plant projects Danny Roderick said that the company’s ABWR technology remains the world’s only Generation III design in operation.
"Our renewal application demonstrates our commitment to the proven ABWR product and our confidence in our long-term growth prospects as many utilities are still evaluating their future power supply needs, project costs, energy prices and other market factors," Roderick said.
GEH said that, in 1997, its ABWR technology became the first Generation III reactor model to be certified for US construction.
