Dominion Virginia Power has selected Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (US-APWR) technology for a potential third nuclear unit at its North Anna power station in central Virginia.
The company has not yet decided to build a new nuclear unit at North Anna, but expects to make a decision later this year. If the company decides to build the new unit, it has to receive a combined operating license from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the approval of the Virginia State Corporation Commission. The Mitsubishi US-APWR design currently is undergoing the NRC certification process.
Thomas Farrell II, chairman, president and CEO of Dominion, said: “Dominion Virginia Power is the first utility in the US to conduct a competitive bidding process for new reactor technology in the past decade. We are pleased with the results of this process. Based on our final analysis of the proposals received in the competitive process, Mitsubishi provided the most attractive value for our customers.
“Mitsubishi reactor designs have been thoroughly tested. They are safe and proven, and the PWR technology is very familiar to Dominion. This reactor meets all analyzed and permitted environmental requirements for the North Anna site, and will produce a substantial amount of electricity with virtually no greenhouse gas emissions.”