The GEMINI Initiative: a transatlantic partnership

Transcription

1 GEMINI A Trans-Atlantic Partnership to Accelerate the Development of Improved, Intrinsically Safe and Versatile Nuclear Energy Technology The GEMINI Initiative: a transatlantic partnership Presented by Mark Haynes (NGNP Industry Alliance) & Harri Tuomisto (FORTUM, NC2I Task Force) Co-authors From the NGNP Industry Alliance: D.J. Halter, M. Haynes, L. Sandell, F. Shahrokhi, C. Hamilton From NC2I: C. Auriault, A. Bredimas, V. Chauvet, G. Brinkmann, M. Fütterer, D. Hittner, T. Jackowski, B. Wiechers, A. Racek, K. Rozycki, R. Schmitt, H. Tuomisto 1

2 On the basis of a common vision of the specific potential of HTGR for industrial deployment, The NGNP Industry Alliance, based in the US The Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative, based in Europe decided to launch jointly the GEMINI Initiative. 2

3 GEMINI 1. The NGNP Industry Alliance 2. The Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative 3. The GEMINI transatlantic partnership 30/09/

4 GEMINI 1. The NGNP Industry Alliance 2. The Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative 3. The GEMINI transatlantic partnership 30/09/

5 The NGNP Industry Alliance (NIA) Mission: To promote the development and commercialization of HTGR technology

6 The NGNP Industry Alliance (NIA) Drivers for adopting High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactor (HTGR) Technology in the US Proven next generation nuclear technology least technical risk Billions invested in U.S. and around world; $600M by federal government over past decade; Chinese currently building commercial sized unit Least time to market / easiest to license in U.S. Safety second to none: able to be operated near or on industrial facilities High output temperatures = many uses beyond electric power

7 The NGNP Industry Alliance (NIA) Key Milestones - 1 Formed in response to the U.S. Energy Policy Act of 2005 HTGR application studies of Waterford Louisiana site and of Canadian Oil Sands HTGR assisted coal-to-liquids studies in 2 top U.S. coal states (Wyoming, Kentucky) Worked with U.S. Congress and Administration to maintain strong funding for HTGR development work: approx. $600M since 2006 Close coordination with the Idaho National Laboratory Completion of Business Plan in collaboration with U.S. Department of Energy Ongoing collaborations with Korea and Japan on HTGR process heat for hydrogen production More on

8 The NGNP Industry Alliance (NIA) Key Milestones - 2 Coordinating next year s HTR2016 meeting in the U.S. Discussions with Indonesian, Saudi and authorities from other nations Detailed business plan completed MOU with NC2I MOU with Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative (SODI) for development of HTGR centered Integrated Energy System at Piketon, Ohio Staying in close communication with DOE and Congress More on

9 Profound investment in HTGRs Over the past 15 years US industry has invested over $1 billion in evaluating design tradeoffs, early design and equipment qualification for HTGR technology. Many billions have been historically spent on demonstrations in the U.S., EU, Japan and China since 1960s Via the authorization of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant Project, the US Government has invested over $600 million in development and qualification of TRISO fuel, high temperature materials and selected equipment far more than any other next generation nuclear technology The US Government is expected to provide funding of ~ $200 million over next six years to complete fundamental development 30/09/

10 GEMINI 1. The NGNP Industry Alliance 2. The Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative 3. The GEMINI transatlantic partnership 30/09/

11 What is the Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative (NC2I)? Purpose: to drive the development and deployment of high temperature nuclear cogeneration for industrial use 11

12 What is the Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative (NC2I)? NC2I was set up in 2011 as Europe s initiative for nuclear cogeneration, under its umbrella organisation, the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) HTGR was selected as the reference technology in order to reach higher temperatures for industrial applications NC2I builds on French & German legacy + 15 years of EU R&D programmes + Polish programme The task force gathers the nuclear developers, and the business group will allow a structured dialogue with end-users and investors to drive the demonstration programme 12

13 GEMINI 1. The NGNP Industry Alliance 2. The Nuclear Cogeneration Industrial Initiative 3. The GEMINI transatlantic partnership 30/09/

14 A shared vision of the assets and challenges for HTGR industrial deployment Government funding would be needed to de-risk the project and would be in line with the government role: Increased safety Reduction of CO 2 footprint in industry Increased job opportunities Industrial energy supply security and diversity Brussels, 24 June 2014 Signature of the MOU between NC2I and NGNP IA: the founding of GEMINI The NGNP Industry Alliance and NC2I decided to launch the GEMINI Initiative for facilitating this challenging phase by sharing the development efforts and the risks between US and Europe. 14

15 The GEMINI Initiative (1) The approach Convergence of designs between Europe and the US If possible same design At least maximum convergence between both designs (e.g. most components identical, same fuel) Some residual differences may persist in order to address different market needs or regulatory requirements on both sides Industry and research organizations in the US and in Europe need to work under a strong international agreement to carry out the design and regulatory tasks, as well as the residual R&D and qualification. Apply lessons learned from ITER 15

16 The GEMINI Initiative (2) Main advantages Help overcome U.S. and EU difficulty in deployment of new nuclear technology Reduce each partner s cost by sharing tasks, in particular costs of onetime barriers of design and design certification Combine the best engineering and research talents and means, industrial capabilities, and past experience & ongoing activities Paves way for other technologies such as fast reactor technology Increase technical expertise Increase political support Facilitate a more assured funding stream Increase markets for reactors, fuel, components, etc. (exports!)

17 The GEMINI Initiative (3) Main actors Nuclear vendors Research Centers Governments Investors Main outputs Certified design Identified supply chain Qualified components Sites for demonstration in the US and in Europe Operator / end-users partnership for construction and operation 17

18 The GEMINI Initiative (4) Cooperation modalities Technology mapping to support synergies and avoid gaps & duplications Semi-annual exchange workshops Cooperation in projects (NC2I-R, TWINS proposal ) Joint communication (GEMINI public website, presentations in conferences, delegation visits ) NC2I visit to Piketon in April Attendance from U.S. DOE, NIA, SODI, INL, U.S. Congress, local governments Strong Piketon/SODI support for partnership with EU 30/09/

19 GEMINI A Trans-Atlantic Partnership to Accelerate the Development of Improved, Intrinsically Safe and Versatile Nuclear Energy Technology Backup Slides 19

20 A shared vision of the assets and challenges for HTGR industrial deployment (1) Higher temperature than present nuclear systems Possibility to operate in cogeneration mode with high flexibility for adjusting between power & heat generation Opens a large market for nuclear-powered industrial process heat supply identified in US and EU Not in competition with Gen III deployment Very significant potential to contribute to Security of energy supply Limitation of CO 2 emissions Industry responsible for 25% of European CO 2 emissions 100 MWth of HTGR process heat saves t of CO 2 / yr against natural gas and almost double against coal 20

21 A shared vision of the assets and challenges for HTGR industrial deployment (2) Unique intrinsic safety features Even in worst case scenario, no significant core degradation and/or radioactive releases outside the reactor in accident condition Possible co-location with process industries Simplification of the safety design Asset for competitiveness The most mature Generation IV technology Possibility of early industrial deployment with mostly proven technologies 21

22 A shared vision of the assets and challenges for HTGR industrial deployment (3) Industrial experience with nuclear cogeneration until now limited to lower temperatures Need for industrial demonstration of cogeneration with HTGR as soon as possible before large scale industrial deployment 3 phases for the demonstration program, with different leading actors and different level of financial (not primarily technical) risks 1. Design and licensing Leader: designer Significant risks 2. Construction Leaders: operator/end-user Medium to low risks 3. Operation 22

23 A shared vision of the assets and challenges for HTGR industrial deployment (4) Despite low technical risk, there are high risks in the first phase of the development of a new nuclear system Large up-front costs (~ 1.5 G$ for completing design and licensing of prototype cogeneration HTGR) and long duration (about 7 years) Timeframe for meeting regulatory requirements long and uncertain Return on investment in 15 to 20 years Need to alleviate demonstration risks and make construction projects attractive for investors 23

24 Basis for the HTGR cogeneration system design (1) To use the HTGR modular concept For enhanced safety, economic competitiveness and adaptation to end-users needs To benefit from steam networks already in operation on large industrial sites: At least for the first applications, the coupling between the nuclear heat source and the process heat applications will be a standardized plug-in coupling, with the HTGR system substituting a conventional cogeneration plant 24

25 Basis for the HTGR cogeneration system design (2) No need for HTGR outlet temperature to exceed C and process steam to exceed C Possibility to rely on mature designs with steam generators and secondary steam cycle (HTR-Modul, MHTGR, etc.), adapting them to present regulatory frameworks HTR-Modul Use of existing nuclear industry-proven materials for main components Helium Pressure Boundary and Steam Generator MHTGR 25

26 Basis for the HTGR cogeneration system design (3) Nevertheless, as long as no additional risks and delays are induced, to assess the benefit from progress of technology and innovations drawn from the most recent design experiences in Europe and in the US (ANTARES, NGNP ) or emerging from the GEMINI Initiative: Recent graphite grades selected by the European and US R&D The fuel developed in the US and being presently qualified in the AGR program Use of advanced technologies (composites for control rod cladding, membranes for He purification, advanced instrumentation, etc.) ANTARES Shutdown cooling system Fraction of produced fission products released in the AGR 1 irradiation < 10-7 Cross Vessel Plate IHX modules Reactor Vessel Main Circulator Reactor Building IHX Vessel 26

27 The global energy context: Worldwide concern for climate change In Europe, the SET-Plan fixed ambitious targets for reducing CO 2 emissions - 40% by 2030 In US, Clean Power Plan EPA emission goals, June % by

28 The global energy context: Concern for security of energy supply The EU economy is significantly dependent on imported fossil fuel High and volatile energy costs Insecurity of supply due to international conflicts Concern about de-industrialization of Europe: unfavorable energy conditions contribute to relocation of industrial activities from Europe to other regions ( carbon leakage ) US is currently flushed with cheap natural gas from fracking operation, however Environmental concerns are brewing Export to higher priced markets is expected to normalize worldwide price of natural gas 28