Navy Plans to Supply Norfolk Base Power From USS Gerald R. Ford

The nuclear-powered USS Gerald R. Ford will export electricity from its two A1B reactors directly to Naval Station Norfolk later this summer. Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao stated the plan during a May 14 House Armed Services Committee hearing on the FY2027 budget.

“This summer, Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia is going to be powered from an aircraft carrier,” he said. ” A Navy spokesperson later confirmed the initial test will occur later this year. The test forms part of a broader effort to obtain firm, baseload power and mission assurance at installations.

The Ford recently returned to Norfolk after a 326-day deployment. Its A1B reactors, built by Bechtel and BWXT, deliver roughly 25 percent more energy and operational availability than the older A4W plants on Nimitz-class carriers and require fewer sailors to operate.

The demonstration will determine whether a docked supercarrier can function as a floating backup generator during grid outages, attacks, or disasters. Officials have also discussed using the power for potable water production in drought-stricken areas.

U.S. East Coast. The project did not advance in the United States. Russia operates the Akademik Lomonosov, which has supplied the Arctic town of Pevek with about 70 megawatts of electricity and district heat since 2019. Rosatom continues development of follow-on designs using RITM-200M reactors.

At the same hearing, Chief of Naval Operations Adm.

Daryl Caudle called for a Navy reactor pilot program modeled on Army and Air Force initiatives. He stated the Navy intends to participate in any broader effort and needs an established pilot with a target date.