Commercial operation likely to begin later this year
There are already five units in commercial operation at the Hongyanhe site. Courtesy CNEA.
First criticality has been achieved at Unit 6 of the Hongyanhe nuclear power station in China’s Liaoning province in the northeast of the country, the China Nuclear Energy Association said.
First criticality means the plant achieved a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction for the first time.
The criticality operation began on 20 April with permission to proceed from the regulator and was completed on 21 April at 01:13 local time after about 18 hours, CNEA said.
First criticality means the plant achieved a controlled, self-sustaining nuclear fission chain reaction for the first time.
The criticality operation began on 20 April with permission to proceed from the regulator and was completed on 21 April at 01:13 local time after about 18 hours, CNEA said.
In late March, fuel loading was completed at Hongyanhe-6, a Generation III ACPR-1000 pressurised water reactor, construction of which began in July 2015.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Thursday, 28 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/first-criticality-achieved-at-hongyanhe-6-acpr-1000-unit-4-3-2022
Achievement could produce large quantities of low-carbon energy for industry, transport and home heating.
The 30-MW HTTR is a graphite-moderated gas-cooled research reactor. Courtesy JAEA.
The Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) are to establish a demonstration green hydrogen production project at the High-Temperature Test Reactor (HTTR) in Ibaraki Prefecture, north of Tokyo.
The project means Japan has joined a number of countries in the race to generate green hydrogen from a nuclear reactor – an achievement that could produce large quantities of low-carbon energy for industry, transport and home heating.
A number of initiatives have begun in different countries to transmit electricity produced by a nuclear plant – or another low-carbon energy facility such as solar – to electrolysers, which would produce green hydrogen.
The project means Japan has joined a number of countries in the race to generate green hydrogen from a nuclear reactor – an achievement that could produce large quantities of low-carbon energy for industry, transport and home heating.
A number of initiatives have begun in different countries to transmit electricity produced by a nuclear plant – or another low-carbon energy facility such as solar – to electrolysers, which would produce green hydrogen.
The technology is reasonably mature, but remains expensive. Proponents say it can be commercialised for large-scale consumer use – possibly within years – to help bring about the transition to a zero-carbon hydrogen-based economy without the need for fossil fuels.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Wednesday, 27 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/jaea-and-mhi-join-global-race-to-generate-green-hydrogen-from-nuclear-4-2-2022
Firm running five test programmes in US and Europe
Framatome deployed the world’s first full ATF assembly at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear station in the US state of Maryland.
French nuclear company Framatome is running five test programmes for accident-tolerant fuel in the US and Europe and is confident that it will “only be a few years” before it is producing full reload quantities, Ala Alzaben, senior vice-president for the firm’s North America fuel business unit and commercial and customer centre told NucNet.
Last year, during a scheduled spring refuelling outage, Framatome deployed the world’s first full ATF assembly at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear station in the US state of Maryland.
This followed the launching in 2012 of the US Department of Energy ATF initiative in response to the 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident in Japan. The DOE set three main objectives: to develop a fuel to allow nuclear operators additional coping time during accidents; to launch and deploy lead test assemblies by 2022; and to make sure improvements do not impact the operational performance of the fuel.
Last year, during a scheduled spring refuelling outage, Framatome deployed the world’s first full ATF assembly at the Calvert Cliffs nuclear station in the US state of Maryland.
This followed the launching in 2012 of the US Department of Energy ATF initiative in response to the 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident in Japan. The DOE set three main objectives: to develop a fuel to allow nuclear operators additional coping time during accidents; to launch and deploy lead test assemblies by 2022; and to make sure improvements do not impact the operational performance of the fuel.
Mr Alzaben said Framatome had met the DOE’s schedule and has deployed lead test assemblies in five reactors, four in the US and one in Europe.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Tuesday, 26 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/french-company-aiming-to-produce-full-reload-quantities-of-accident-tolerant-fuel-4-2-2022
Company hopes to have first reactor in operation in 2029
NuScale is aiming to have its first SMR in operation in 2029. Courtesy NuScale.
US reactor developer NuScale Power and Doosan Enerbility have signed an agreement for Doosan to begin production of forging materials for NuScale’s small modular reactors as early as 2022, with expectations for full-scale equipment manufacturing by the latter half of 2023.
Doosan, a South Korean industrials and energy company, will begin production of forging dies for NuScale’s upper reactor pressure vessel.
NuScale, which is finalising plans to go public, is working for Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (Uamps) to bring what could be the world’s first SMR project to commercialisation.
Doosan, a South Korean industrials and energy company, will begin production of forging dies for NuScale’s upper reactor pressure vessel.
NuScale, which is finalising plans to go public, is working for Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (Uamps) to bring what could be the world’s first SMR project to commercialisation.
Uamps is scheduled to submit a construction licence application in 2023, and is aiming to start commercial operation of the first module in 2029.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Tuesday, 26 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/nuscale-signs-agreement-with-doosan-for-production-of-smr-forging-materials-4-1-2022
OPG and TVA announce ‘win-win’ SMR agreement
OPG is planning to deply a GEH BWRX-300 small modular rector unit at its Darlington site. Courtesy OPG.
Two of North America’s major nuclear utilities have announced a partnership to develop advanced nuclear technology as an integral part of a clean energy future and creating a North American energy hub.
Canada-based Ontario Power Generation and Tennessee Valley Authority of the US said they will jointly work to help develop small modular reactors as a long-term source of 24/7 carbon-free energy in both Canada and the US.
They said the no exchange of funding is involved in the “win-win” agreement. However, the collaboration will help OPG and TVA reduce the financial risk that comes from development of innovative technology, as well as future deployment costs.
Canada-based Ontario Power Generation and Tennessee Valley Authority of the US said they will jointly work to help develop small modular reactors as a long-term source of 24/7 carbon-free energy in both Canada and the US.
They said the no exchange of funding is involved in the “win-win” agreement. However, the collaboration will help OPG and TVA reduce the financial risk that comes from development of innovative technology, as well as future deployment costs.
The agreement allows the companies to coordinate their explorations into the design, licensing, construction and operation of SMRs.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Friday, 22 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/canada-us-partnership-aims-to-develop-advanced-nuclear-technology-4-4-2022
US ‘should double’ domestic nuclear production by 2050
February 2022 file photo of construction at the Vogtle nuclear power station in Georgia. Courtesy Georgia Power.
The US should aim to double domestic nuclear energy production by 2050 to help achieve 100% clean energy with the widespread deployment of advanced reactors a crucial part of policy, the Nuclear Innovation Alliance think-tank says.
In a report on the future of nuclear fission, the US-based NIA says advanced nuclear energy has the potential to greatly reduce carbon emissions by mid-century and help achieve 100% clean energy in the US. But this promise can only be achieved with “the timely, efficient and widespread deployment of advanced reactors”.
The report warns that the US will need to rebuild the supply chain, complete nuclear projects on time and on budget, create incentives for deployment and enact policies that enable private investment.
In a report on the future of nuclear fission, the US-based NIA says advanced nuclear energy has the potential to greatly reduce carbon emissions by mid-century and help achieve 100% clean energy in the US. But this promise can only be achieved with “the timely, efficient and widespread deployment of advanced reactors”.
The report warns that the US will need to rebuild the supply chain, complete nuclear projects on time and on budget, create incentives for deployment and enact policies that enable private investment.
The report cites other conditions for success that it says are critical to the successful deployment of advanced reactors. They include modernising advanced nuclear energy regulation, making progress on spent nuclear fuel, getting siting right and prioritising environmental and energy justice. This would ensure, for example, that communities benefit from the repurposing of retiring fossil fuel infrastructure with advanced reactors.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Thursday, 21 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/think-tank-calls-for-timely-efficient-and-widespread-deployment-of-advanced-reactors-4-3-2022
Boss says construction of components could begin soon
The reactors could be providing power to the UK’s national grid by 2029. Courtesy Rolls-Royce.
Rolls-Royce is to start building parts for its small modular nuclear reactors in anticipation of receiving regulatory approval from the British government by 2024, one of its directors has said.
Paul Stein, the chairman of Rolls-Royce SMR, a subsidiary of the FTSE 100 engineering company, said he hoped the reactors would be providing power to the UK’s national grid by 2029.
SMRs can be built in factories, a method that could be cheaper and quicker than traditional designs. The technology, based on the reactors used in nuclear submarines, is seen by Rolls-Royce as a potential earner far beyond any previous business such as jet engines or diesel motors.
Paul Stein, the chairman of Rolls-Royce SMR, a subsidiary of the FTSE 100 engineering company, said he hoped the reactors would be providing power to the UK’s national grid by 2029.
SMRs can be built in factories, a method that could be cheaper and quicker than traditional designs. The technology, based on the reactors used in nuclear submarines, is seen by Rolls-Royce as a potential earner far beyond any previous business such as jet engines or diesel motors.
The government under prime minister Boris Johnson put nuclear power at the centre of its energy strategy announced earlier this month, in response to climate concerns and a desire to ditch Russian gas.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Wednesday, 20 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/company-expects-to-receive-regulatory-approval-for-reactor-by-2024-4-2-2022
Country ‘continuously working’ to strengthen nuclear and radiation safety
The single-unit Krško nuclear station is co-owned by Slovenia and neighbouring Croatia. Courtesy Katja143/Wikimedia Commons.
Slovenia should aim to provide sufficient funding and human resources for both the Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration (SNSA) and the Slovenia Radiation Protection Authority (SRPA) to fulfil their responsibilities, an International Atomic energy Agency mission has concluded.
The IAEA team said the government should consider allotting sufficient funding and human resources to the regulators to guarantee their sustained independence and performance.
The SNSA is the country’s nuclear regulatory authority and the SRPA regulates radiation safety in medicine and veterinary practices.
The IAEA team said the government should consider allotting sufficient funding and human resources to the regulators to guarantee their sustained independence and performance.
The SNSA is the country’s nuclear regulatory authority and the SRPA regulates radiation safety in medicine and veterinary practices.
The IAEA’s integrated regulatory review service (IRRS) team found that Slovenia is continuously working to further strengthen its mature nuclear and radiation safety framework, including by holding emergency exercises with cyber security scenarios.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Friday, 15 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/iaea-review-calls-for-sufficient-funding-and-human-resources-for-regulators-4-4-2022
Construction of new unit could begin in 2029
The Existing Dukovany nuclear station has four Russian-type VVER units. Courtesy ČEZ.
US-based Westinghouse Electric Company has signed further memorandums of understanding with companies in the Czech Republic related to cooperation on the potential deployment of an AP1000 nuclear power plant for the Dukovany-5 project and other potential AP1000 projects in Central Europe.
The MoUs signed with 10 companies will establish cooperation with the companies involved in areas including the production and supply of valves, technological equipment, crane services, piping systems and automation and control and field instrumentation.
The latest MoUs add to seven agreements signed with local companies in the Czech Republic in January.
The MoUs signed with 10 companies will establish cooperation with the companies involved in areas including the production and supply of valves, technological equipment, crane services, piping systems and automation and control and field instrumentation.
The latest MoUs add to seven agreements signed with local companies in the Czech Republic in January.
The new plant at Dukovany will be built next to the existing nuclear station, which has four VVER units that began commercial operation in the 1980s.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Thursday, 14 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/westinghouse-signs-more-agreements-for-potential-dukovany-5-project-4-3-2022
Company plans to deliver first batch of fuel for testing in 2024
The BWXT advanced nuclear reactor is a transportable high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor which will use Triso fuel (pictured). Courtesy Idaho National Laboratory.
A microreactor being developed by Virginia-based nuclear equipment company BWXT has been selected to participate in the US Department of Energy’s advanced reactor demonstration programme (ARDP).
The BWXT advanced nuclear reactor, called Banr, is a transportable high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor which will use Triso fuel.
In 2020, BWXT was chosen to lead a seven-year $106m (€97m) cost-sharing project by the DOE to develop the reactor design. The DOE said it would contribute $85m of funding under the arrangement.
The BWXT advanced nuclear reactor, called Banr, is a transportable high-temperature gas-cooled microreactor which will use Triso fuel.
In 2020, BWXT was chosen to lead a seven-year $106m (€97m) cost-sharing project by the DOE to develop the reactor design. The DOE said it would contribute $85m of funding under the arrangement.
BWXT has been cooperating with the Idaho National Laboratory and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory on developing Triso fuel. The company said it is expecting to deliver the first batch of the Banr Triso fuel for testing at INL’s advanced test reactor in 2024.
- Source: Nucnet
- Date: Thursday, 14 April 2022
- Original article: nucnet.org/news/bwxt-microreactor-selected-for-doe-s-advanced-demonstration-programme-4-3-2022
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