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Many of us have a mental model of power generation based on combustion. The internal combustion engine powers cars, trucks and airplanes. Combustion turbines are also used to generate electricity at natural gas plants. All of these devices require...

It’s a frequent question from anyone hearing about the 8 million homes that Duke Energy’s nuclear fleet powers. The answer is less straightforward than people may expect if they are not familiar with the electrical grid.

Some say turning 40 is a gateway to old age. Others say life begins at 40. McGuire Nuclear Station workers view 40 as an important milestone since McGuire Unit 1 produced its first commercial electricity on Dec. 12, 1981. For the past 40 years, McGuire...

Although there are a number of ways to reach operational goals and achieve Duke Energy’s net-zero carbon emission target, we cannot achieve these milestones without engaged employees leading the way.  We took some time to ask employees about their...

The best way to fight a fire is prevention. Did you know October is Fire Prevention Month? The goal of Fire Prevention Month (and week October 3-9) is to raise fire safety awareness and help ensure your home and family are protected. Although Fire...

Every morning, as our communities are waking up, our nuclear teammates continue working to safely provide the clean, life-essential electricity our customers and communities rely on every day. Carbon-free. No matter the time of day, no matter the...

One way the energy industry measures the reliability of power plants is by regularly calculating capacity factors. Capacity factor measures how often a plant is running at maximum power. It’s expressed as a percentage and calculated by dividing the actual unit of electricity output by the maximum possible output. This ratio is important because it indicates how fully a generating unit is used.

We know that the great things in life always involve maintenance. Whether it is our relationships, our homes, cars, toys – anything! Enjoying the best in life always comes with a few chores.   The same is true with nuclear energy. To enjoy the benefits...

Continuous learning is part of any profession. Our nuclear professionals are no exception; indeed, no industry requires as much continuous training as commercial nuclear power generation. Training is needed to ensure safe, reliable operations for the generation of life-essential electricity.

One of the many questions we receive from community members is about the startup process of a nuclear reaction in our plants. For those of us who aren’t nuclear operators or engineers, it can seem like a mysterious process. To help shed some light on this mystery, here’s a highly simplified explanation for how it works.