Limerick Generating Station
| Company type | Nuclear power plant |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | 1986 |
| Headquarters | Limerick Township, Pennsylvania , United States |
Area served | Approximately 2 million homes in Pennsylvania and surrounding areas |
| Products | Electricity generation (approx. 2,317 megawatts) |
| Owner | Constellation Energy |
The Limerick Generating Station is a nuclear energy facility situated in Limerick Township, Pennsylvania, within Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, approximately 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Since its spin-off from Exelon Corporation in 2022, it has been owned and managed by Constellation Energy. The plant houses two General Electric boiling water reactors (BWRs) that utilize natural draft cooling towers for heat dissipation. Combined, these reactors produce around 2,317 megawatts, providing power to roughly 2 million homes.
Operating nearly continuously at maximum capacity except during scheduled refueling periods, Limerick transmits electricity through several 500 kV transmission lines. It serves as a black start facility, meaning it can initiate power generation independently without relying on the external grid. Backup power is ensured by eight Fairbanks Morse diesel generators, each rated at 3,000 kilowatts and capable of reaching operational speed within ten seconds.
The cooling towers of the plant are notable visual landmarks, visible from across Montgomery, Chester, and Berks counties as well as from the tallest skyscrapers in Philadelphia. Safety measures include monthly low-volume siren tests within a 10-mile radius and biannual full-volume siren tests conducted every June and December.
History
In 1969, the Philadelphia Electric Company—now known as PECO Energy and a subsidiary of Exelon—revealed plans to construct a nuclear power facility along the Schuylkill River in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, situated about 30 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Construction by Bechtel Power Corporation was delayed until June 1974 due to local opposition and other setbacks.
Limerick Unit 1 achieved criticality on December 22, 1984, commencing commercial operations on February 1, 1986. Unit 2 reached criticality on August 1, 1989, and began commercial service on January 8, 1990.
On July 27, 1994, an F3 tornado passed within two miles of the Limerick Generating Station, causing damage to nearby residences in Limerick Township but sparing the plant itself.
In May 2006, President George W. Bush visited the site to advocate for nuclear energy under the Advanced Energy Initiative, touring various parts of the facility including its control room.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) extended the operating licenses for Limerick Units 1 and 2 by two decades on October 20, 2014, permitting operations through 2044 and 2049 respectively.
Unit 2 was forced to scram from full power on June 1, 2016 following an electrical malfunction that caused recirculation pumps to stop. The plant then proceeded with a standard hot shutdown sequence after this event.
Electricity production
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 1,720,999 | 1,421,555 | 1,571,281 | 1,146,121 | 1,714,981 | 1,585,203 | 1,707,221 | 1,694,826 | 1,654,876 | 1,735,777 | 1,680,970 | 1,742,643 | 19,376,453 |
| 2002 | 1,723,068 | 1,482,757 | 1,142,347 | 1,668,793 | 1,554,140 | 1,646,067 | 1,567,800 | 1,691,587 | 1,639,388 | 1,735,382 | 1,691,178 | 1,753,837 | 19,296,344 |
| 2003 | 1,753,254 | 1,550,234 | 1,130,516 | 1,519,321 | 1,714,769 | 1,653,453 | 1,696,881 | 1,607,028 | 1,624,447 | 1,731500 | 1743910 | !19.400264 | | ||
| 2004 | 1537566 | 1168932 | 1668300 | 1671600 | 1556407 | 1683613 | 1685008 | 1567029 | 1709787 | 1660675 | 1717900 | !19349537 | | ||||||||||||
| 2005 | 1362085kWh | 1004085kWh | 1664188kWh | 16775881kWh | 1626264kWh | 1608325kWh | 1669489kWh | 1609470kWh | 1555876kWh | 1667420kWh | 1744182kWh | !18905850kWh | | ||||||||||||
| 2006 | 1430630kWh | 1140055kWh | 1661763kWh | 15924211kWh | 1619325kWh | 1668413kWh | 1673366kWh | 16292210kWh | 1718027kWh | <Sm al L >1665166 kwh | |171730896 kwh | | ||||||||||||
| 2007 | 1556952 kwh | 1096433 kwh | 1316275 kwh | 1684085 kwh | 1628014 kwh | 1675750 kwh | 1634390 kwh | 1625974 kwh | 1697270 kwh | 1674801 kwh | 1733093 kwh | !19053534 kwh | | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | 1188953 kwh | 1065283 kwh | 1649544 kwh | 1744775 kwh | 1619733 kwh | 1667984 kwh | 1681787 kwh | 1609184 kwh | 1702975 kwh | <Smal l>1673330 kwh | |1733732 kwh | | ||||||||||||
| 2009 | ... (table continues with similar data for subsequent years) |
Seismic risk
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) assesses the likelihood of earthquakes impacting each nuclear reactor in the United States. According to a 2010 NRC analysis, the probability of an earthquake causing core damage at Limerick is estimated at 1 in 18,868. In response to the 2011 Fukushima Daiichi incident, regulators required additional seismic risk assessments for this facility.
A quarry located nearby performs blasting activities occasionally, with approval from the plant's personnel.
Surrounding population
The NRC establishes two emergency planning zones around nuclear facilities: a 10-mile radius plume exposure pathway zone, which addresses airborne radioactive hazards, and a 50-mile ingestion pathway zone, which concerns the consumption of contaminated food and water.
As of 2010, the number of residents within 10 miles of Limerick was 252,197, reflecting an 18.7% growth over ten years. Within a 50-mile radius, the population reached 8,027,924, marking a 6.1% increase since 2000.
Significant urban centers located within 50 miles include:
- Pennsylvania: Philadelphia (28mi), Allentown (27mi), Reading (19mi)
- New Jersey: Trenton (43mi), Camden (32mi)
- Delaware: Wilmington (33mi)