NRC Updates AP1000 Design Certification, Streamlines Future Reactor Licensing

Updated Westinghouse AP1000 design incorporates lessons from Vogtle Units 3 and 4, extends certification to 2066

ROCKVILLE, Md. — The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today updated and renewed the certification of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor design, incorporating lessons from the construction and operation of Vogtle Units 3 and 4 (the nation’s newest nuclear reactors) into the certified design.

The action gives future applicants a standardized, field-proven AP1000 design that reflects how the reactors were actually constructed and operated. It is intended to reduce duplicative regulatory reviews, lower licensing costs and help future AP1000 projects move through the NRC’s licensing process more efficiently.

During the construction and startup of Vogtle Units 3 and 4, the NRC reviewed and approved nearly 200 license amendments. By incorporating applicable design changes and lessons learned from that experience into the renewed certification, future AP1000 applicants can reference an updated design rather than seeking separate approval for changes the NRC has already evaluated.

“The NRC’s approval of the updated AP1000 design provides the regulatory foundation for America to move from building individual reactors to deploying them at scale,” Chairman Ho K. Nieh said. “This is how safety-focused, enabling regulation reduces regulatory uncertainty and investment risk.”

The renewed certification extends the AP1000 design’s validity through 2066. Future applicants will still be required to obtain NRC approval for site-specific environmental, safety and security considerations, and today’s action does not authorize the siting, construction or operation of any facility.