Post on 16-Jan-2016
Nuclear Energy in 2013:Status and Outlook
Briefing for Czech Technical University
Scott Peterson, Senior Vice PresidentNuclear Energy Institute
March 11, 2013
Today’s Briefing• Benefits of nuclear energy• Enhancing nuclear plant safety• Used nuclear fuel management• Short- and long-term outlook for
nuclear energy
Nuclear Energy: A Solid Value Proposition
Clean Air Compliance
Value
Grid Stability
Forward Price
Stability
Fuel and Technology
Diversity
Anchor the Local
Community: Jobs, Tax Base
Nuclear Energy’s Value Proposition U.S. Nuclear Plant Capacity Factor (Percent)
2012 Trends• 10% of electric
capacity produces 20% of U.S. electricity
• Highest capacity factor of any power source
• Consistently low production costs, lower than natural gas and coal
• Growing recognition of energy security/ national security benefits
Sources: Energy Information Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission
89.6% in 200691.8% in 200791.1% in 200890.5% in 200991.2% in 201088.9% in 201186.4% in 2012 (est.)
89.2% without Crystal River 3, Fort Calhoun and San Onofre
Consistently High Safety Performance
• Nuclear energy is safe. Fleet safety performance is consistently high and remained so during 2012
• Major events are rare; most measures of safety focus on lesser, precursor events that are resolved
• Most recent report from the NRC’s Industry Trend Program: No significant adverse trends in industry safety performance
Response to the Fukushima Accident
NRC Top Requirements
• Enhance ability to maintain cooling and containment integrity during a severe event
• Enhance spent fuel pool instrumentation• Re-evaluate potential seismic and flooding hazards• Ensure reliable and accessible hardened containment
vents• Re-evaluate emergency communications systems
and staffing levels for multi-reactor events
Industry’s FLEX Approach Enhances Safety• FLEX is a system of comprehensive, tailored safety
measures to respond to extreme events• 67 sites around the country maintain backup portable
safety equipment- More portable, backup safety equipment being added at all 65
plant sites to respond to natural events- Two regional response centers being developed and equipped
to provide another layer of backup equipment
• More than 1,500 pieces of equipment added• FLEX approach is being emulated by industry in
other countries
National Network for Equipment Sharing
Perceived Safety of Nuclear Power Plants
Bisconti Research, Inc. with GfK Roper survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, Feb. 8-10, 2013
• Thinking about the nuclear power plants that are operating now, how safe do you regard these plants? Please think of a scale from "1" to "7," where "1" means very unsafe and "7" means very safe. The safer you think they are, the higher the number you would give.
Favorability to Nuclear Energy
Bisconti Research, Inc. with GfK Roper survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, Feb. 8-10, 2013
• Overall, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States?
Safely Managing Used Nuclear Fuel
• Spent fuel stored at reactor sites awaiting U.S. Department of Energy management
• Yucca Mountain repository project licensing application review suspended in 2010
• Blue Ribbon Commission investigates new path toward responsible stewardship
• Meanwhile, U.S. government is paying damages and courts are considering lawsuits related to license review and tax on consumers
Used Fuel Management Policy Update
• Early stages of developing consensus on how to restructure program
• Industry endorses:- Complete Yucca Mountain licensing- Implement consent-based siting for
consolidated storage facility- Develop new management entity
with access to funds necessary to complete mission
- Develop permanent disposal facility (at Yucca Mountain or elsewhere)
New Nuclear Development
New U.S. Reactor Projects
• Five reactors under construction- Watts Bar 2, online in 2015- Vogtle 3 & 4 (AP1000), online in 2017, 2018- Summer 2 & 3 (AP1000), online in 2017, 2018
Vogtle AP1000 Project in Georgia
Crews at the largest construction project in Georgia’s history prepare Vogtle 3 for 6-foot-thick concrete basemat
Summer AP1000 Project in South Carolina
Containment vessel: lower head and rings
Rebar placement at Summer 2 excavation pit
Global Market Leadership
• Westinghouse has built 25 reactors in the EU, 4 AP1000s are being built in China, 4 in the U.S.
• Modular construction techniques allow for distribution of in-country jobs and concurrent assembly
• U.S. nuclear technology is a strategic element of U.S. foreign policy: export technology and safety culture
• AP1000 expansion in global markets could create additional markets, jobs for Czech-based suppliers and service providers
Questions?