Power Engineering - Next 12 to 24 months critical to U.S. nuke renaissance

A conference called "Best Practices for the New Nuclear Power Plant Certification and Combined Operating License (COL) Application Processes" was held in Atlanta November 6-7, presented by Electric Utility Consultants Inc.

Speakers included officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Southern Nuclear Operating Co., NuStart Energy Development as well as management from four next-generation nuclear plant designers -- GE, AREVA, Westinghouse and Hitachi.

The speakers were enthusiastic about nuclear energy's future in the United States. However, they all mentioned that even though 19 potential sites have been submitted to the NRC for early site permits and COLs, no utility has committed to building a plant.

The NRC speakers talked about how the construction and operating licensing process will be different from the process that was used in the 1960s and 1970s. Even with a "streamlined" approach this time, the NRC process still appears to be somewhat burdensome with many of its requirements still unclear.

In addition to the licensing uncertainties, other major concerns include availability of components, skilled engineers and craft personnel. While most believe these issues are manageable, they also believe they must be addressed immediately. Several speakers suggested that utilities must commit to construction in 2007 or 2008 -- before the COL is approved and issued -- to allow enough lead time for major component manufacture.

Long-term nuclear storage and uranium price were two "hot button" topics that were not discussed; neither seemed to be major issues with the speakers.

AREVA and Hitachi speakers pointed out that even though no new nuclear plants have been built in the United States in almost three decades, they have been built in other parts of the world, including Japan and South Korea.

AREVA is currently constructing its advanced designed plant, the EPR, in Finland. It plans to start construction on a second unit in France in 2007. The U.S. NRC is following these two projects closely, as this is the design that AREVA hopes to get licensed, working with Bechtel and Constellation Energy. AREVA also has four plants in service in China and six more either on order or planned there.

Hitachi has built four ABWRs (advanced boiling water reactors) in Japan in the past 10 years and has developed several ways to streamline the construction process. The last unit, which began operation in March 2006, took 43 months for construction and startup testing.

Most speakers agreed that 2007 and 2008 will be critical years for a U.S. nuclear renaissance. They agreed that if one or two plants are successfully built and begin operating by 2014 to 2015 (requiring a 2007 to 2008 commitment) then several other plants likely will follow, resulting in a true nuclear renaissance. Construction on those plants is not expected to begin until 2015 to 2016.

Read more on these stories and the latest nuclear generation news in Power Engineering's new nuclear newsletter, coming in January. Email pe-online@pennwell.com to be added to the subscription list.

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