By Sarah A. Marshall – February 2026

North Anna Power Station (North Anna, or NAPS), located at Lake Anna in Louisa County, Virginia, is a vital part of Virginia’s energy landscape. It produces over 15% of the energy generated by Dominion Energy in the Commonwealth, over 43% of its carbon-free energy, and provides enough safe, reliable, affordable, and carbon-free electricity to serve nearly 475,000 homes. The station was named after the North Anna River which was dammed to create Lake Anna (the public side) and the Waste Heat Treatment Facility (WHTF, or the private side).

Picture Plant

North Anna is a nuclear power station, composed of two Westinghouse Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs). Both Unit 1 and Unit 2 produce roughly 945 MW each. Unit 1 began operations in 1978 and Unit 2 in 1980. In August 2024, The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved second license renewal applications for both units, allowing NAPS to continue to provide safe, reliable, affordable, and carbon-free electricity through 2058 (Unit 1) and 2060 (Unit 2). In addition, the station supports approximately 800 full-time employees and has provided over $422 million in local tax revenue since it began operations.

North Anna produces electricity by heating water to create steam, which turns a turbine producing electricity. The heat needed to carry out this process is created through nuclear fission. This process of creating heat is the primary difference between a nuclear power station and other traditional power stations (coal, natural gas, oil, biomass) and is what makes nuclear power a clean energy source.

Pic 2

Nuclear fission is the process of splitting an atom to produce carbon-free electricity. This process takes place inside the Reactor Vessel where a Pressurizer keeps water under high pressure so that it heats but does not boil. This is where the name for the type of Unit at North Anna – PWR – comes from.

Once pressurized, the water in the reactor loop carries heat to a Steam Generator, where water in a secondary loop is vaporized into steam. The steam is then pumped into a turbine, pushing giant blades to turn the electrical generator and produce electricity. After turning the turbines, unused steam is cooled and condensed by a third loop of cooling water pumped from Lake Anna a water source through the condenser. The condensed steam -- now water again -- is pumped back into the Steam Generator to be reheated and repeat the process.
 
The pressurized water in the reactor loop, the water in the Steam Generator, and the Lake Anna cooling water are three separate loops and never mix. This also means that the Lake Anna cooling water – which is withdrawn from Lake Anna (public side) and then discharged from North Anna into the Waste Heat Treatment Facility (WHTF, private side) – never comes in contact with the nuclear fuel.

Nuclear energy is by far America’s largest source of clean electricity, emitting no greenhouse gases or air pollutants, while producing substantial amounts of electricity around the clock. The long-term success of North Anna can be tied to the safety and reliability of nuclear fuel as well as the dedication of the employees who work there.

Provided by Dominion Energy

Sarah A. Marshall