Power demand in the U.S. will rise to 4,112 billion kWh in 2024 and 4,123 billion kWh in 2025
In the United States more than a half of the carbon-free electricity is generated by nuclear energy, avoiding nearly 500 million metric tons of carbon emissions.
The Browns Ferry Nuclear Power Plant is the second-largest nuclear power producer in the nation and produces reliable, carbon-free energy for the seven-state region it serves.
Sarens continues to play an important role in maintaining the nuclear energy in the mix of carbon-free power resources by supporting the renovations and new facilities.
Power demand in the US will rise to 4,112 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) in 2024 and 4,123 billion kWh in 2025 according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA); which means that electricity demand will grow a 1% average per year throughout 2050. In order to meet future electricity demands, the United States has embraced a broad portfolio of energy solutions, and nuclear energy is an important part of that mix.
More than half of the carbon-free electricity generated in the U.S. comes from nuclear power plants. Nuclear energy plays a significant role in U.S. efforts to reduce its carbon footprint and maintain power reliability.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, is a trusted service provider within the nuclear sector. A recent opportunity in a project for Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Athens, Alabama, USA, is an example. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) selected Sarens for its innovative engineered lifting and rigging solutions.
In 2023, Sarens began working on the replacement of three feedwater heaters, each weighing nearly 98,600 pounds and measuring 50 feet long. The Sarens team designed a custom Temporary Lift Device (TLD) alongside an Hydraulic Lift Unit (HLU). This device was designed to fit a limited space, provide maximum lift height and make the entire vertical lift extremely stable. It took the team one day to install the equipment, remove the three old feedwater heaters, and install three new heaters.
This work, as well as other scheduled maintenance activities, will ensure the plant continues to produce reliable, carbon- free power for the seven-state region it serves.
Projections for U.S. electricity demand growth over the next five years have doubled from a year ago, driven by new artificial-intelligence data centers, chip manufacturing plants, and electric-vehicle transition. Sarens is a key contributor to the growing demand for nuclear power worldwide.
Utility companies are already investing in extending the service life of its 93 operating reactors. This year, two new reactors came online. In addition, the government has approved a $1.5 billion loan to restart the Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan.
The rapid development of new small modular reactors is another solution to the growing demand for reliable power. In 2020, Sarens U.S. operations began ground-breaking work supporting the first small modular reactor (SMR) to receive design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That same year, the company launched the world’s largest crane, the SGC-250, designed to advance the construction of the Hinkley Point C Nuclear Station in the UK.
About Sarens
Sarens is the global leader and reference in crane rental, heavy lift and engineered transportation services. With state-of-the-art equipment, value engineering, one of the world’s largest inventories of cranes, transporters and special rigging equipment, Sarens offers creative and intelligent solutions to today’s heavy lifting and engineering transport challenges.
With more than 100 entities in 66 countries operating without borders, Sarens is an ideal partner for small to large-scale projects. Sarens currently employs 5,000 highly qualified professionals who are ready to serve the needs of any client worldwide and in all market sectors. https://www.sarens.com/
