PPL Corp., subsidiares expand collaboration with U.S. DOE initiative

PPL Corporation subsidiaries Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company will build on an earlier assessment of nuclear feasibility at the site of an existing Kentucky coal-fired power plant by exploring additional locations and partnerships that could support nuclear energy in the commonwealth. As with earlier feasibility assessments at LG&E and KU’s Ghent Generation Station in Ghent, Ky., PPL’s Research and Development team plans to partner with Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear, a U.S. Department of Energy initiative, and nuclear design engineering company X-Energy in the next phase of assessments. PPL and GAIN’s prior study at the Ghent facility determined that the site is suitable for a nuclear SMR plant, but would have potential size constraints for a larger traditional nuclear reactor. Phase two of the study will explore alternative locations and industrial partnerships that could enable energy-intensive customers, including manufacturers and data centers, to achieve their zero-carbon objectives while maintaining reliability and affordability.