Recent Developments in Nuclear Energy

Transcription

1 Recent Developments in Nuclear Energy Pete Lyons Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Office of Nuclear Energy U.S. Department of Energy July 15, 2010

2 January 27, 2010: President Obama s State of the Union Speech But to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, more incentives. And that means building a new generation of safe, clean nuclear power plants in this country.

3 February 16, 2010: President Obama announces Vogtle loan guarantee We need to look no further than the worker and apprentices standing behind me to see the future that's possible when it comes to clean energy. "And this is only the beginning. My budget proposes tripling the loan guarantees we provide to help finance safe, clean nuclear facilities and we'll continue to provide financing for clean energy projects in Maryland and across America"

4 4 Nuclear Energy Objectives Develop technologies and other solutions that can improve the reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the life of current reactors Develop improvements in the affordability of new reactors to enable nuclear energy to help meet the Administration's energy security and climate change goals Develop sustainable nuclear fuel cycles Understand and minimize the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism

5 Objective 1: Life Extension Goal is to provide technical basis to extend plant life beyond 60 years with improved performance Challenges Aging and degradation of system structures and components Fuel reliability and performance Obsolete analog instrumentation and control technologies Design and safety analysis tools based on 1980 s vintage knowledge bases and computational capabilities 5

6 Objective 2: New Builds Goals Demonstrate 10 CFR Part 52 licensing framework Facilitate accelerated licensing of small modular reactors Facilitate development and demonstration of advanced manufacturing and construction technologies Develop and demonstrate next generation advanced plant concepts and technologies Challenges Financial hurdles associated with new plant Deploy small reactors to reduce up front capital costs Develop plant designs that address industrial needs Uncertainty over new regulatory frameworks 6

7 Small Modular Reactor Workshop Held June in Washington, DC Attended by over 275 representatives from U.S. and international nuclear industries, national laboratories, academia, and various U.S. and international government agencies The SMR Technical Working session represented a diverse mix of organizations; approximately 38 organizations participated on these working panels (12 from government, 34 from labs, 9 from universities, and 38 from industry (21 from vendors)) DOE will use information captured throughout both sessions of the SMR Workshop to develop the SMR Program Plan, identify a prioritized list of R&D activities that can support the development of both LWR and non- LWR SMR designs, and to develop the FY2012 budget

8 Objective 3: Sustainable Fuel Cycles Goals In the near term, define and analyze fuel cycle technologies to develop options that increase the sustainability of nuclear energy In the medium term, select preferred fuel cycle option for further development By 2050, deploy preferred fuel cycle Challenges Develop high burnup fuel and structural materials to withstand irradiation for longer periods of time Develop simplified separations, waste management, and proliferation risk reduction methods Develop optimized systems to maximize energy production while minimizing waste 8

9 Three Potential Fuel Cycle Options Once-Through No recycling or conditioning of used fuel Low uranium utilization Appropriate for a low price uranium future Appropriate when repository capacity and/or actinide loadings are not show stoppers Full Recycle Multiple reprocessing steps and transmutation of actinides Complete uranium utilization (with breeder) Appropriate for high price uranium future Appropriate when repository capacity and/or actinide loadings are show stoppers Modified Open Cycle Very limited used fuel conditioning or processing (e.g., recladding) High uranium utilization and burnup (i.e., used fuel is spent fuel) Appropriate for a high price uranium future or intent to better utilize domestic resources Appropriate when major constraint is on repository capacity (e.g., heat loading, geologic media) Appropriate when actinide loading is not a show stopper

10 Three Potential Fuel Cycle Options (cont d) Once-Through (Open) Electricity, process heat Reactor Geologic disposal of used fuel Ore recovery, refining and enrichment Fuel Modified Open * Reactor Electricity, process heat Geologic disposal of spent fuel (after at least one reburn) Ore recovery, refining and enrichment Fuel Fuel treatment Geologic disposal of process waste Full Recycle (Fully Closed) * Electricity, process heat Reactor Geologic disposal of process Ore recovery, refining and Fuel waste enrichment Separation *A specific fuel cycle strategy may include more than one fuel design, reactor design, or fuel treatment process.

11 Objective 4: Understand and Minimize Proliferation Risk Goal is limiting proliferation and security threats by protecting materials, facilities, sensitive technologies and expertise. Challenges Develop proliferation risk assessment methodologies and tools Minimize potential for misuse of technology and materials Develop highly reliable, remote, and unattended monitoring technologies Design improved safeguards into new energy systems and fuel cycle facilities Develop advanced material tracking methodologies 11

12 FY2011 Budget Request Breakdown Program: Research & Development FY 2010 Approp FY 2011 Request Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies 0 99,300 a Integrated University Program 5,000 0 Re-Energyse 0 5,000 Reactor Concepts RD&D 0 195,000 a Research & Development 55% Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems 220,137 0 Nuclear Power ,000 0 Fuel Cycle Research and Development 136, ,000 a International Nuclear Energy Cooperation 0 3,000 Infrastructure 45% Infrastructure Radiological Facilities Management 72, ,818 Idaho Facilities Management 173, ,482 Idaho Sitewide S&S 83,358 88,200 Program Direction 73,000 91,452 Congressionally Directed Projects 2,500 0 Total NE: 869, ,252 a) up to 20% of R&D funds are competitively awarded to universities

13 NEET and NEUP Workshops Nuclear Energy University Program Workshop on July 27-28, 2010 At the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, Maryland Will provide university researchers and educators the opportunity to understand and weigh in on the proposed scope of the Nuclear Energy University Programs Funding Opportunity Announcement for FY 2011 Attendance is limited to 200, with representatives from universities, program managers from HQ, Field Technical POCs, students and other interested parties. Will take the lessons learned and feedback from the workshop and finalize the FY 2011 Research and Development areas in preparation for the R&D solicitation; prepare for the 2011 Infrastructure and Fellowship and Scholarship soliciations Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies Workshop on July 29, 2010 At the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Executive Meeting Center in Rockville, Maryland Will gather stakeholder s input on the NEET program, which will develop crosscutting technologies to support advanced reactor concepts and fuel cycle technologies, and to encourage the development of transformative, out of the box solutions across the full range of nuclear energy technology issues. Attendance is limited to 200, with representatives from industry, the national labs, universities, and other interested parties Will provide an opportunity for the research community to weigh in on potential crosscutting concepts and topic areas that may be included in the FY2011 NEET Program Funding Opportunity Announcements

14 Role of International Collaboration International collaboration is important for a science-based approach Maintain breadth and depth of knowledge Expanded validation database sources Stimulate new ideas Fast Reactor R&D important for ALL major nuclear states: Trilateral MOU signed with France (CEA) and Japan (JAEA) for sodiumcooled fast reactor (SFR) development Bilateral agreements with France and Japan on specific items Participation in MONJU restart (validation data) Bilateral working group on fast reactor technology with China Initial focus on transfer and training on fast reactor safety codes Bilateral discussions on fast test reactor options with Russia Collaboration on SFR and LFR technology development through the Generation-IV International Forum Active role in five multi-lateral Technical Projects 14

15 Closing Thoughts President Obama in Prague: We must harness the power of nuclear energy on behalf of our efforts to combat climate change, and to advance peace and opportunity for all people. Secretary of Energy Chu: The United States is engaging with countries around the world to enhance cooperation on nuclear energy. President Obama has called for a new framework for civil nuclear cooperation so that all countries can access peaceful nuclear power without increasing the risks of proliferation. Deputy Secretary of Energy Poneman: U.S. nuclear companies, with world-class technology, service, and experience, stand ready to contribute to the growth of civil nuclear power worldwide in a manner that meets the highest international standards.