Department of Energy Experience with Small Modular Reactors

Transcription

1 Department of Energy Experience with Small Modular Reactors The Nuclear Option: Is Small Scale Nuclear Energy an Option for Alaska? - Exploratory Workshop Craig Welling Office of Nuclear Energy U.S. Department of Energy December 2010

2 DOE Office of Nuclear Energy Mission: Advance nuclear energy technology to meet nation s strategic goals: Strengthen US energy independence and security Enhance environmental quality by reducing greenhouse gases emissions NE achieves its mission through research, development, and demonstration on four objectives: Improve the reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the life of current reactors Improve the affordability of new reactors Develop a sustainable nuclear fuel cycle Understand and minimize the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism 2

3 Near-Term SMRs Overview Well-Understood Technology Light water designs Regulatory experience Commercial Interest At least two credible vendors NuScale Vendor/Utility coalitions establishing 60 x 14 dia. Manufacturing industry mobilizing Revitalize US nuclear infrastructure & Navy shipbuilding industry Operational by 2020, NRC licensed DOE and DoD as customers for SMR electricity Private consortium constructs, owns and operates An approach that addresses first of a kind costs mpower 76 x 10 dia. 3

4 Why Domestic Interest in SMRs? Benefits Reduced capital cost makes nuclear energy feasible for more utilities Shorter construction schedules due to modular construction Improved quality, less cost & schedule risk due to modular fabrication Can meet electric demand growth incrementally Enhanced safety (robustness) Supported by U.S. manufacturing capabilities Markets Replacement for aging or costly fossil plants reduces GHG emissions Air cooling or reduced water usage expands potential sites Non-electrical (process heat) customers Multiple units permit generation with less impact by planned outages 4

5 Benefits of DOE SMR Program to U.S. Government and Industry Supports U.S. climate and energy goals Federal Agencies are directed to reduce GHG emissions 28% by 2020 Modular construction in U.S. facilities promotes domestic economic growth and development of jobs for U.S. workers Opens international markets and re-establishes U.S. technology leadership in a growing global market Facilitates energy security and sustainability for critical DOE/DoD mission success Supports U.S. nonproliferation goals by developing a more secure reactor technology and certifies these designs for export to international markets 5

6 Additional Benefits SMRs can extend the use of nuclear energy to new regions Regions requiring limited capacity addition or replacement Regions lacking connection to a large grid Regions where competing energy sources are scarce, expensive or economically unattractive Regions needing to reduce their carbon footprint SMRs can support various applications Generation of electricity, process heat, and steam for residential, industrial or commercial users Leveling of generation output for renewable energy sources SMRs provide a scalable source Can match demand over time by adding reactors Can reduce upfront costs 6

7 What Has Changed That Created Increased Momentum for SMR Deployment? Administration/DOE has a high priority to meet GHG reduction goals by 2020 DOE/DoD are jointly reviewing the deployment of SMRs at Labs or domestic installations for energy security LWR SMR vendors have accelerated design development Domestic U.S. customers and manufacturers have indicated strong interest in SMRs Vendor/Utility Coalitions are developing licensing and deployment plans for SMRs focused on specific sites with value to U.S. Congress has interest in accelerating SMR deployment The NRC has allocated resources to support certification and licensing of SMRs in their Office of New Reactors Despite the significant interest in SMRs as an energy alternative for domestic power companies, the First of a Kind (FOAK) costs are still a high risk activity, and a huge financial burden on both vendors and end users. Government support is needed to reduce risks and accelerate schedules so that U.S. nuclear industry is able to penetrate growing U.S. and international markets. 7

8 DOE and Small Modular Reactors DOE s FY2011 budget request included a request for approximately $39 million for the Small Modular Reactor program and Congressional marks raised that to ~ $50 million The SMR program supports two activities: - Public/private partnerships to advance mature SMR designs - Research and development (R&D) activities to advance the understanding and demonstration of innovative reactor technologies and concepts. The Office of Nuclear Energy s SMR program expects to establish competitive cost-shared projects to support NRC design certification of new LWR SMR designs DOE will support R&D activities at its national laboratories and universities to develop and prove SMRs based on advanced and innovative concepts 8

9 SMR Technical Focus Areas: Cost-Shared Demonstration Activities Light Water Reactor SMR Cost Share Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) (~ Request for Proposals) planned for FY2011 Cost-share first-of-a-kind (FOAK) development and licensing costs to advance at least two LWR SMR designs toward Design Certifications (DCs), early site permits (ESPs), and Combined Operating Licenses (COLs) Pursue business model(s) that promise a return on investment or other value proposition to the U.S. Government Seeks Utility/Vendor teams TVA/B&W/ORNL is a potential example Cost-shared first-mover SMRs projects would be expected to return value to the Government and/or advance U.S. strategic missions and goals A National Lab can potentially agree to long term Power Purchase Agreements Pursue business model(s) that advance U.S. commercial interests Pursue cost-share LWR R&D that will accelerate licensing 9

10 TVA/Oak Ridge Potential DOE First Mover 34 MW 24 MW 20 MW Projected 2020 Electricity Demand: 1.3 M MWhr ~ 170 MW 10

11 NuScale Power, Inc. Initially developed as Multi- Application LWR (MASLWR) by INL/OSU then licensed to NuScale Power, Inc. 45 MWe capacity Integral PWR configuration Natural circulation of primary coolant Standard 17x17 pin fuel assemblies with 3.5-yr refueling cycle Single helical coil steam generator Containment Reactor Vessel Helical Coil Steam Generator Nuclear Core 11

12 Simple and Robust Design Integrated Reactor Vessel enclosed in an air evacuated Containment Vessel Immersed in a large pool of water Passively safe Located below grade Utilizes off-the-shelf turbinegenerator set Multiple fission product barriers Air and water cooled options Operating 1/3-scale test system 11/29/

13 mpower (Babcock & Wilcox) Developed by Babcock & Wilcox 125 MWe capacity Integral PWR configuration Forced circulation of primary coolant Standard 17x17 pin fuel assemblies with 4.5-yr refueling cycle Once-through straight tube steam generator 3.6-m-dia by 22-m-tall reactor vessel Pressurization Volume Steam generator coils Control Rod Drive Mechanisms Reactor coolant pumps DHRS heat exchangers Core mpower (Babcock & Wilcox) 13

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15 Westinghouse SMR (formerly International Reactor Innovative and Secure (IRIS)) Westinghouse was part of IRIS consortium of 20+ organizations in 10 countries Westinghouse is no longer part of consortium and is pursuing a smaller design that is expected to be less than 300 MWe. IRIS was 335 MWe capacity IRIS was an Integral PWR design 15

16 Deployment by 2020 SMR Concept Definition Prepare DCA NRC DC Review Prepare COLA NRC COL Review Long-Lead Procurement Manufacturing Construction NRC responding to SMR interest Office of New Reactors includes SMR certification & licensing FY2011 budget request calls for doubling NRC staff to support SMR review and licensing ITAAC 16

17 Possible DoD-Utility Pairings Ft. Lewis Offutt AFB Wright Patterson AFB Kirtland AFB & White Sands MR Redstone Arsenal Utilities that have expressed interest in pursing SMRs 17

18 Advanced Reactor Concepts There are longer term initiatives DOE is focused on near term Light water reactor designs for SMR deployment Designs such as PRISM and 4S will require longer times for deployment New innovative technologies Non-LWR based designs GEN IV advanced/transformative reactor concepts typically fast reactors Broader applications Power production Process heat applications Oil refining and extraction Desalination Nuclear Fuel Management Respond to Blue Ribbon Commission recommendations) GE PRISM Toshiba 4S 18

19 International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) Small Modular Reactors activity Significant International Interest in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) Many countries need smaller reactors due to grid size SMRs require less capital outlay than larger plants SMR generation capability can be added incrementally SMRs can provide revenue sooner due to shorter construction periods New designs are now being developed and soon will be in certification December 6, 2010 meeting included multiple topics of interest concerning SMRs: Argentina: Presentation on CAREM Italy: Presentation on cost competitiveness of SMRs United States: Analysis of financial considerations Russia: Presentation on transportable reactors SMR updates on Korean SMART, Toshiba 4S, NuScale Power, Babcock and Wilcox mpower, and Hyperion designs 19

20 Feasibility Assessments DOE has supported Feasibility Assessments for Poland, Jordan and Ghana. Feasibility Assessments have looked at: Infrastructure Readiness including such issues as Human Resource Development capability Existence of Regulatory and Legislative Frameworks Existence of Industrial capability Grid size Financial and Economic viability Cost benefit analysis Availability of financing Nuclear plant overnight cost vs. other generation pricing DOE is presently pursuing an SMR Economic Feasibility Assessment SMR vs. large plant cost per kw operational costs Financial advantages of SMRs less capital cost, ability to generate revenue sooner, incremental expansion benefits, modular construction savings Analysis being performed by Argonne National Lab UAE benefitted from infrastructure analysis/planning by Lightbridge Corp. and CH2Mhill. 20

21 Infrastructure Needed The IAEA document - Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power established the following 19 infrastructure elements: National position Nuclear Safety Management Funding and Financing Legislative Framework Safeguards Regulatory Framework Radiation protection Electrical grid Human resource development Stakeholder involvement Site and supporting facilities Environmental protection Emergency Planning Security and Physical protection Nuclear Fuel cycle (knowledge) Radioactive Waste Industrial Involvement Procurement Although this list is for countries developing nuclear energy many of the issues have to be addressed at new locations in the United States. 21

22 Results of a Feasibility Study Ghana Assessment Results Information useful for in-country decision making Broader implications identified - Underscored the: Need for SMR options for countries with smaller grids Need for cradle-to grave nuclear fuel service options Need for region-based sharing for infrastructure development Need for approaches to address financial challenges Need for a solid foundation of education and training 22

23 Comments Small reactors could be more appropriate for Alaska due to grid size The SMR designs could be suitable for deployment on the Railbelt electrical grid NuScale and B&W are the potential near term vendors Currently, nuclear energy is an economical source for base load. To develop nuclear energy near term, partnering with a current nuclear operator would be a viable approach No U.S. nuclear utility currently operates a fast reactor 23

24 Conclusion Nuclear industry, public and Congress have expressed substantial interest and support for SMR s Independent cost and financial models may favor SMRs The DOE SMR Program is planned and awaits funding for execution As a new start in FY 2011, the Continuing Resolution could possibly slow start of program execution to later in FY 2011 Lower capital costs, ability to address GHG goals, energy security and opportunity for job development are key drivers 24