Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant
| Company type | Project (cancelled) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Nuclear energy |
| Founded | 1970s |
| Founder | Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G), Offshore Power Systems |
| Defunct | 1978 |
| Headquarters | New Jersey , United States |
| Products | Nuclear power generation (planned) |
The Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant was an envisioned offshore nuclear energy facility situated off New Jersey’s coastline. The initiative was launched in the 1970s by Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) in collaboration with developer Offshore Power Systems. The design included four Westinghouse 1,150 MWe net output pressurized water reactors, with two units ordered in 1972 followed by an additional two in 1973. Ultimately, the project was terminated in 1978.
Location
The proposed site was approximately 1.8 miles (2.9 km) offshore near Little Egg Harbor and Great Bay, about 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Atlantic City. Reactor modules were intended to be constructed on artificial islands shielded by concrete breakwaters. These modules would be fabricated at Blount Island close to Jacksonville, Florida, and then transported by sea. The concept was originally developed in 1969 by a PSE&G engineer. Although the plant was expected to commence operations in the mid-1980s, rising expenses and environmental resistance led to its cancellation by 1978.
Design and engineering
The facility’s configuration consisted of two identical nuclear units positioned side-by-side atop large rectangular barge platforms. Protection for the site would have been provided by a breakwater—among the largest and most robust ever designed for marine environments—constructed from concrete caissons, sand, gravel, and capped with roughly 70,000 interlocking pre-cast concrete dolosse, each weighing up to 42 tons and measuring . This structure was engineered to endure ocean waves reaching , sustained hurricane-force winds of , and tornado winds up to .
Each barge measured approximately per side with a draft close to . The breakwater’s design permitted an additional clearance beneath the platforms to allow water flow. The reactors installed were Westinghouse four-loop pressurized water reactors (PWRs) rated at 1,150 MWe each.
Construction and logistics
Fabrication of the nuclear units was planned at a dedicated facility in Jacksonville, Florida, operated by Offshore Power Systems—a joint venture between Westinghouse and Tenneco. The approach emphasized modular construction paired with assembly-line production techniques aimed at standardizing designs, cutting costs, and accelerating project timelines, aligning with contemporary modular reactor development philosophies.
Power generated offshore would have been delivered to shore via heavy-duty underwater cables, removing the necessity for overhead high-voltage transmission lines. A shore-based support hub was intended to facilitate workforce transportation, supply maintenance materials, and manage logistical operations.