Currently, there are already more than 90 nuclear reactors in the United States that are allowed to operate for 60 years. In addition, in that country, the term Subsequent License Renewal (SLR) has been defined as the period of operation of nuclear power plants up to 80 years. In 2018, several American nuclear power plants, Turkey Point (3 & 4), Peach Bottom (2 & 3), and Surry (1 & 2), requested to operate for 80 years. The US NRC is in the process of reviewing these applications and is committed to issuing an opinion within approximately 18 months. There is a prediction that another plant will submit this request in the short term.

The implications of operating nuclear power plants for more than 60 years are numerous and, to ensure that their operation is within high safety levels, there are several aspects that should be considered, such as the life management of the facilities, the control of the aging processes of structures, systems and components, the internal organization and management of workers' knowledge, the analysis of I&C components, mechanics, civil structures, etc.

In the United States, the regulatory body has already issued two documents related to the Subsequent License Renewal that, on the one hand, design the technical basis for establishing an adequate plan for the management of aging in the facility, and on the other, guide the reviewers of these requests from the regulatory body in verifying compliance with the requirements of 10 CFR 54 Requirements for the Renewal of Operating Licenses for Nuclear Power Plants.

This general session aims to reveal how this process is being managed in the United States from three points of view: the facility owners (Exelon), the R&D entity (EPRI), and the regulatory body (US NRC). To do this, we will have three executives from these American institutions.