WILMINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 27, 2004--GE Energy's nuclear business has honored Progress Energy's nuclear power plants in Brunswick, N.C. as two of the world's top sustained generation boiling water reactors (BWRs).
In an Oct. 26 presentation at the 1,800 megawatt Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant, located two miles north of Southport along the Cape Fear River, Andy White, President and CEO of GE's nuclear business, presented plaques to Brunswick Plant Vice President Neil Gannon and several of the site's managers, recognizing the reactors' inclusion on
GE's 2003 BWR Honor Roll.
One only needs to look at the performance of plants like Brunswick to see nuclear power must take a larger role in the nation's energy portfolio as global demands for power and a cleaner atmosphere both continue to grow, said GE's White.
This is the 34th year GE has recognized the world's top BWR facilities. To make the honor roll, a plant's sustained generation must be in the top quartile of the world's 89 eligible BWR plants. The two Brunswick units were two of 22 BWR units GE recognized.
A plant's capacity factor represents the amount of power generated in a given year versus its theoretical maximum output for the year (expressed as a percentage). In 2003, the two Brunswick units each had higher ratings than the industry's average of 89.6%, according to the
Nuclear Energy Institute.
Earlier in 2004, Brunswick's reactor Unit 1 completed a three-year, 100 MW power uprate, to achieve a 20% uprate from its original thermal power. A similar uprate is underway for Unit 2, which had a 92.26% capacity factor in 2003 despite a refueling outage.
GE, Brunswick's original equipment manufacturer, is providing equipment and other services for the power uprate projects in addition to fuel engineering services and licensing support.
Progress Energy's successful efforts to maximize and sustain Brunswick's power output is an industry model, as the facility is the first BWR unit in the country to achieve the historic 20% uprate of its original power, White said.
In all, Brunswick generated 15,143,009-megawatt hours (MWH) of electricity in 2003, a new record for the 29-year-old plant. To further underscore Brunswick's performance, in 2002 Unit 1 finished a continuous 707-day run, the world's longest sustained operation by any light water reactor facility between refueling outages.
The two Brunswick units and the nation's 101 other operating nuclear power plants currently generate 20% of the nation's energy supply. GE's nuclear business, headquartered in Wilmington, N.C., develops advanced light water reactors and provides a wide array of technology-based products and services to help owners of both boiling and pressurized water reactors safely operate their facilities with greater efficiency and output.
About Progress Energy
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 24,000 megawatts of generating capacity, 2.8 million customers and $9 billion in annual revenues. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at http://www.progress-energy.com.
About GE Energy
GE Energy is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technology, with 2003 revenues of nearly $18.5 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, distributed power and energy rental
industries.
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