Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel January 2008 The Nuclear Energy Institute NEI is the organization responsible for establishing unified nuclear industry policy on matters affecting the nuclear energy industry. NEI s members* include all utilities licensed to operate commercial nuclear power plants in the United States, nuclear plant designers, major architect/engineering firms, fuel fabrication facilities, nuclear material licensees, and other organizations and individuals involved in the nuclear energy industry. * 296 member companies in 15 countries as of 10/9/07 2 1
Why Nuclear Energy? The lesson of the last 15 years in U.S. electricity policy: Diversified fuel and technology portfolio is essential All fuels and technologies (nuclear, coal, natural gas, renewables, efficiency) have a legitimate role The challenge for the future: Preserving/restoring diversified portfolio Ensuring resource adequacy, particularly in competitive markets Expanded use of nuclear energy is part of the answer Interim storage supports nuclear competitiveness 3 Sustained Reliability and Productivity U.S. Nuclear Capacity Factor, Percent 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 88.1% in 2000 89.4% in 2001 90.3% in 2002 87.9% in 2003 90.1% in 2004 89.3% in 2005 89.8% in 2006* 50 '81 '82 '83 '84 '85 '86 '87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 Source: Global Energy Decisions / Energy Information Administration * Preliminary 4 2
Solid Economic Performance Continues U.S. Nuclear Production Cost, in 2006 cents/kwh 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 2000: 2.03 cents/kwh 2001: 1.89 cents/kwh 2002: 1.90 cents/kwh 2003: 1.86 cents/kwh 2004: 1.84 cents/kwh 2005: 1.76 cents/kwh 2006: 1.72 cents/kwh* 0.0 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04 '05 '06 Source: Global Energy Decisions 5 Nuclear Facts 104 commercial nuclear plants at 64 sites in 31 states Most plants have received or are pursuing 20 year license extension Provide 20% of U.S. electricity generation, emits no controlled pollutants Average Production Costs 1.68 cents/kwh, Coal 1.9 cents, Oil 5.39 cents, Natural Gas 5.87 cents One uranium pellet equals 17,000 cubic feet of NG, 1,780 lbs. of coal or 149 gal. of oil 6 3
U.S. Nuclear Plants 7 Nuclear Steam Electric Station Pressurized Water Reactor Condenser Heat Source Steam Generator Cooling Source Turbine Generator Circulating Pump Primary Loop Circulating Pump Secondary Loop Circulating Pump 4
Used Nuclear Fuel Solid ceramic pellets encased in metal clad rods 40 years of nuclear electricity have produced only a small amount entire inventory would cover a single football field approximately 7 yards deep 9 Ceramic Uranium Dioxide Fuel Pellets are Approximately the Same Diameter as Pencil 10 5
Westinghouse 17x17 Nuclear Fuel Assembly 11 Used Nuclear Fuel Storage Current used fuel inventory Approximately 55,600 MTU Current dry storage inventory 9,600 MTU 877 casks/canisters loaded At 39 sites Future dry storage inventory by 2017 Estimating 22,300 MTU 2,000 casks/canisters loaded At 66 sites for 108 plants 12 6
The Once Through Fuel Cycle: Current View of Used Fuel Management Nuclear Plant Yucca Mountain Used Fuel 13 Integrated Used Fuel Management Three-pronged approach to used fuel management Interim storage of used fuel until recycling and/or permanent disposal are available Research, development, and demonstration to close the nuclear fuel cycle Permanent disposal facility Divided into short, medium, and long term goals 14 7
Used Fuel: Short-Term Goals Ensure used fuel issues do not become impediment to new nuclear plant construction Identify and develop potential voluntary sites for long-term interim storage could be co-located with advanced reprocessing facilities Begin well-defined program for advanced nuclear fuel cycle technologies (recycle/reprocessing) Start process of licensing Yucca Mountain 15 Used Fuel: Medium-Term Goals U.S. government take title to and remove used fuel from reactor sites Begin deployment and demonstration program for advanced fuel cycle technologies determine type of waste by-product requiring permanent disposal Continue licensing process for Yucca Mountain facility, moving toward finalizing design and construction 16 8
Used Fuel: Long-Term Goals Continue consolidation of used fuel: Repackage used nuclear fuel for shipment to Yucca Mountain Store used nuclear fuel to support fuel treatment/reprocessing centers Reprocess used fuel Fabricate fresh fuel Build and operate Yucca Mountain disposal facility Ship waste by-products & legacy fuel to Yucca Mountain 17 Used Fuel Management: Where We Stand Today Yucca Mountain site judged suitable by Congress in 2002 Worldwide expansion of nuclear energy prompting renewed interest in closing the nuclear fuel cycle: recycling used nuclear fuel advanced used fuel reprocessing technologies developing new type of fuel from reprocessed product new reactor designs Nuclear renaissance will require recycle Long-term timing consistent Interim storage until recycling and/or Yucca Mtn. available assures nuclear sustainability in a competitive marketplace 18 9
Used Fuel Management: New Strategic Direction Recycled Nuclear Fuel Used Fuel Used Fuel Recycling, Interim Storage Nuclear Waste Advanced Recycling Reactors Yucca Mountain 19 Why Are We Here Today? The nuclear industry is seeking a few communities in the United States to host an interim storage facility 20 10
Why Interim Storage of Used Nuclear Fuel? Consolidate 39 sites into 1 or 2, easier management and security, lower costs Interim storage provides support for new nuclear plant construction, which is in the best interest of the US Interim storage also permits utilities to meet their obligation to local communities by completely decommissioning reactor sites at the end of their operating lifetime 21 Used Fuel Stored in Pool 22 11
The Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) at Surry Power Station in Virginia 23 ISFSIs with Vertical Storage Casks Connecticut Yankee Yankee Rowe 24 12
Horizontal Storage Systems at an ISFSI Picnic/ Lunch Area Southern California Edison SONGS Units 1, 2, and 3 25 Used Fuel Storage Systems Used fuel storage systems are comprised of four parts A Transportation, Aging, and Disposal Canister (TAD) or a Dual Purpose Canister (DPC) A Transportation Cask for moving a TAD or DPC between sites (typically by rail) A Vertical Storage Cask or Horizontal Module for storing the TAD or DPC on-site A Transfer Cask for transferring the TAD or DPC between the Transportation Cask and the Vertical Storage Cask or Horizontal Module Numerous opportunities for local manufacturing 26 13
Transportation, Aging, and Disposal Canister or Dual Purpose Canister Vertical Storage Cask On-site Transfer Cask Transportation Cask 27 A Crawler Moves the Vertical Storage Cask to Storage Pad (Note: No special clothing necessary) 28 14
Placement of Vertical Storage Cask at ISFSI 29 Transfer Cask Aligned With Horizontal Storage Module 30 15
DPC is Pushed Through Transfer Cask Into Horizontal Storage Module 31 Nuclear fuel is transported in strong vault-like containers Truck containers weigh 25 to 40 tons Rail containers weigh 75 to 125 tons Multiple barriers provide defense in depth protection Artist Rendition of a Transportation Cask 32 16
Transportation 33 Transportation Safety Record Four decades of safety. Over 3,000 shipments in US. 78% by truck and 22% by rail. Transported over 1.7 million miles Over 24,000 shipments internationally. More than 73,000 MTHM SNF/HLW transported No injuries, fatalities or environmental damage as a result of the radioactive nature of the cargo 34 17
Robust Design All containers must be certified by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Certification requires that rigorous engineering and safety criteria be met Containers are required to withstand 30 ft. fall onto an unyielding surface (equivalent to a 120 mph crash into a bridge abutment) Puncture test (40 ft fall onto 6 in spike) 30 minutes fully engulfed in a 1,475 F fire Submergence under 50 ft of water 35 The Interim Storage Facility 36 18
Artist Rendition of an Away From Reactor Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) 37 Interim Storage as Part of Larger Complex An interim storage facility could be part of larger used fuel complex Facilities for repackaging fuel into DOE canisters for disposal at Yucca Mountain Reprocessing/recycling facilities Advanced fuel cycle fabrication facilities 38 19
Licensing with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission All dry cask storage and transport systems are licensed by the NRC The interim storage facility will also be licensed by the NRC The interim storage facility would be licensed for 20 years and could be renewed 39 Licensing (continued) A Safety Analysis Report and financial qualifications must be submitted for review A Certificate of Compliance will be issued once licensing is complete The public will have an opportunity to participate in the licensing process which may take 2 to 4 years with minimal intervention 40 20
Licensing (continued) The design basis covers a wide range of normal, off-normal, and accident scenarios Environmental conditions that bound the site are analyzed Examples of accidents analyzed include drop, tornado-missiles, flood, burial under debris, and fire 41 Facility Costs The NRC Safety Evaluation Report (2002) for the Private Fuel Storage (PFS) facility, a similarly licensed facility for 4000 casks, noted that PFS estimated the design and licensing cost at $10 million and the facility construction cost at about $92 million 42 21
Interim Storage Facility Infrastructure Rail line to facility or heavy haul route from nearby transfer point (transport casks weigh approx. 125 tons) Admin and maintenance building outside restricted area and transfer building inside restricted area Engineered concrete pads (approximately 3 ft thick) upon which storage casks will be placed Security (chain link security fences, guard station, etc., outer perimeter fence) 43 Staffing Requirements Staff will be needed in the following departments Electrical/Mechanical Maintenance/Operations Quality Assurance Radiation Protection Security Nuclear Engineering Emergency Preparedness Administrative 44 22
Local Economic Impacts A similarly licensed facility, Private Fuel Storage (PFS), estimated 45 jobs during operation Local payroll for PFS estimated at $80 million Other local expenditures estimated at $80 million (e.g. utilities) PFS estimated the cost of 4000 storage casks, if constructed locally, at $747 million *All cost estimates were provided in 1999 and published in the Final Environmental Impact Statement for PFS in 2001 45 Land Usage 1000 storage systems would need approximately 200 acres of land 26 acres inside security fence Private Fuel Storage was designed to store 4000 storage systems on 820 acres of land 99 acres inside security fence 46 23
Environmental Impact Large quantities of water would probably be required for construction (e.g. dust control, soil compaction and concrete cask manufacture) Small environmental impacts during operation (only effects from increased traffic) 47 Radiation Exposure The dry cask storage systems will not release any gaseous or liquid material The radiation dose to the public at the edge of the owner controlled area will be less than 25 millirems in a year In the US, an individual receives approximately 300 millirems each year from naturally occurring sources As a comparison, dental x-rays can result in an exposure of 2 to 9 millirem 48 24
The Keystone Center Nuclear Power Joint Fact-Finding Executive Summary June 2007 With regard to older spent fuel that must be stored on an interim basis until an operating repository is available, the NJFF participants believe that this spent fuel can be stored safely and securely in either spent fuel pools or dry casks, on-site. The NJFF group also agrees that centralized interim storage is a reasonable alternative for managing waste from decommissioned plant sites and could become costeffective for operating reactors in the future. 49 United State Congress FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations Bill Report Language The Department is directed to develop a plan to take custody of spent fuel currently stored at decommissioned reactor sites to both reduce costs that are ultimately borne by the taxpayer and demonstrate that DOE can move forward in the near-term with at least some element of nuclear waste policy. The Department should consider consolidation of the spent fuel from decommissioned reactors either at an existing federal site, at one or more existing operating reactor sites, or at a competitively-selected interim storage site. The Department should engage the sites that volunteered to host Global Nuclear Energy Partnership facilities as part of this competitive process. 50 25
Acknowledgements Pictures and graphics were provided by Holtec International Nuclear Assurance Corporation Transnuclear 51 26