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Oklo and Siemens Energy Sign Agreement to Accelerate Power Conversion System for New SMR in Idaho

LCG, November 19, 2025--Oklo Inc. and Siemens Energy announced today that the parties have signed a binding contract for the design and delivery of the power conversion system for Oklo’s Aurora-INL (Idaho National Laboratory) nuclear small modular reactor (SMR). The agreement authorizes Siemens Energy to begin engineering and design work to expedite procurement of long-lead components and to initiate the manufacturing process for the power conversion system. Oklo’s expertise in advanced fission technology will be combined with Siemens Energy’s extensive industry experience with steam turbine and generator systems, with the ultimate goal of generating carbon-free, reliable electricity.

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NERC's New Winter Reliability Assessment Raises Concerns for Elevated Risk of Insufficient Supplies to Meet Demand in Extreme Operating Conditions

LCG, November 19, 2025--NERC yesterday released its 2025–2026 Winter Reliability Assessment (WRA), which concludes "much of North America is again at an elevated risk of having insufficient energy supplies to meet demand in extreme operating conditions." The WRA does state that resources are adequate for normal winter peak demand, but extended, wide-area cold snaps will be challenging.

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Industry News

Duke Energy Plans to Pursue Second Nuclear Operating License Renewals for Nuclear Fleet

LCG, September 20, 2019--Duke Energy announced yesterday that it will seek to renew the operating licenses of the 11 reactors it operates at six nuclear stations in the Carolinas for an additional 20 years. The company plans to submit the license renewal application for Oconee Nuclear Station in 2021, followed by its other nuclear stations.

Duke Energy has set carbon reduction goals of at least 50 percent by 2030 and net-zero by 2050, and preserving its carbon-free, nuclear fleet is critical to achieving these goals. The combined generating capacity of the nuclear fleet is approximately 10,755 MW, including the jointly owned shares of the Catawba Station. In 2018, Duke's nuclear fleet marked its 20th consecutive year with a fleet capacity factor of over 90 percent, demonstrating both high utilization and plant reliability. If all of the license renewals are successful, then all of the carbon-free, nuclear units could be operating beyond 2050.

Duke Energy's chief nuclear officer stated, "Our nuclear power plants have safely and reliably provided electricity to our Carolinas customers for decades. These plants generate clean and cost-effective power, provide thousands of well-paying jobs, and produce substantial economic benefits for the Carolinas. Renewing the licenses of these plants is important for our customers, communities and environment."

The original nuclear operating licenses received from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) allowed the Duke Energy-operated nuclear units to operate for 40 years. All of these units have already received one renewed, 20-year license extension from the NRC, allowing for a 60-year life. These extensions will start to reach the end of their terms in the early 2030s. The process to renew licenses for a second 20-year period requires a comprehensive analysis and evaluation to ensure the units can safely operate for the extended operation period. The review process begins with an acceptance review of the application once received, with a goal to complete the subsequent license renewal application review within 18 months of docketing.
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