The Challenges Facing New
Generation Capacity
An overview and discussion
Paolo Gaio
Westinghouse International NPP
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The Nuclear Renaissance Has Arrived
 However, it must not be forgotten that the Renaissance
would not be possible without the continued safe and
effective operation of the current worldwide fleet
 Capacity factors are up and safety-related occurrences are
down, providing the most economic baseload generation in
the world.
THIS IS BOTH A SHARED RESPSONSIBLITY AND
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TO ALL OPERATORS AND VENDORS
2
AP1000 Created and Designed to meet
Customer Requirements
 AP1000 Was Developed To Meet
Advanced Light Water Reactor
Utility Requirements (ALWR
URD)
– Issues were discussed with
EPRI ALWR Staff and Utility
Staff
– All issues were resolved
 Sometimes the design
was changed
 Sometimes URD
requirements were
changed
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AP1000 Satisfies EUR
 AP1000 assessed against EUR,
 AP1000 Assessment detailed and
thorough
– Over 5000 requirements
assessed
 EUR Certified on 15 May, 2007
4
Simplification and Standardization are Key to Future
Nuclear Plant Construction
 Simplicity and standardization in Design through reduced number of
components and bulk commodities
 Simplicity in Safety through use of passive safety systems
 Simplicity in Construction through modularization
 Simplicity in Procurement through standardization of components and
plant design
 Simplicity in Operation and Maintenance through use of proven
systems and components, and man-machine interface advancements
Improved Safety, Competitive Economics and Good Performance
5
Essential Change: The New Licensing Process – 10
CFR 52
Early Site Permit
(ESP)
Combined
Construction
and Operating
License
(COL)
Design
Certification
Construction
I TAAC met
Operation
AP1000 Certified
6
Supply Management Challenges
 Abrupt, expanding demand; diminished supply chain
 Long lead times for specialty steel forgings, SG tubing
 Logistics of moving large components around the world
 Competition with supply to other industries and
competitors
Standardized plant advantages - efficiency, lower costs:
 Opportunity to establish a learning curve
 Multiple standard plants = higher production volumes
7
Nuclear is a Local Project Too
 Opportunities for local industry
- Craft construction labor and materials
- Module fabrication
- More engagement according to capability
- Operation.
 Possibly technology transfer, as in:
- Republic of Korea
- China.
8
Project Socio-Economic Impact
Project Construction Staffing - Including Module Fabrication
 Locally:
2500
- Creates higher skilled,
higher paying jobs
- Ripple-effect to local
economy.
Eq Pers
- Develops local artisan force
2000
1500
Unit 2
Unit 1
1000
Site Devel & Modules
500
0
1
7 13 19 25 31 37 43 49 55 61 67 73
Months
9
Human Resource Challenge
 After the 1970s, nuclear business retrenched, hiring stalled
 Declining enrollment in nuclear engineering schools
 Legacy: Gap in the US nuclear work force. Average age, 48 years.
But now…
 Nuclear school admissions growing
 Opportunities for new graduates at Westinghouse
- 500 new graduates hired over past 5 years
- Expect 150 more/year through at least 2010
- Plus experienced hires
 US NRC, 200-400 to be hired/year through 2008
10
Modular Construction Allows More To Be
Done in Parallel Resulting in Shorter
Construction Schedule
36-48 month construction period for the Nth plant, and financing
costs that are >25% lower than earlier generations
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New Designs Have to Deliver
Cost basis that can compete with other energy sources
- High degree of certainty for schedule and cost
- Reduced construction time and cost
Increased levels of safety
Easier to operate and maintain
Standardized plants
Expanded Grid Capability
12
The Current Position for Grid operators
 Grid operators need to maintain the quality, the voltage
and frequency of the electricity generated under
increasing the pressure of:
– Increasing Electrical Demand
– Aging Generation Plant & Transmission Infrastructure
– Pressure to Reduce CO2 – Driving Renewables
 Result – More Flexible Generation Required
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Traditional Generation Mix
 Base load typically comprises of Coal and Nuclear – Plants
which have long start up times high capital costs and low
fuel costs.
 Peak load is usually supplied from gas fired and hydro
plants that are must faster to come online and have
increasingly higher fuel cost
14
Future Generation Mix
Increase in Renewable Generation
– Wind & Solar has Transient Output
There is extensive evidence of large-scale midwinter weather in which very little wind generation
was available across Northern Europe
Oswald J et al, ‘Will British Weather Provide Reliable Electricity?’ 2008 and Bach P-F
15
AP1000 - Smarter Generation
The AP 1000 uses ‘Grey Rods’ to control the
reactor ouput – Not water boronation.
This provides the ability for:
– 5% per minute ramp changes
– 50% Load change per day and a 2 hour linear
ramp characteristic and this is in addition to…
– Follow load changes of less than 10% peak-topeak at a rate of 2% per minute of rated load
– (That’s equivalent to 12MW in 30seconds)
Full Generation Flexibility while maintaining a 60 Year life
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Questions ?
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