Laying the Foundation for New and Advanced Nuclear Reactors in the United States (2023) / Chapter Skim
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1 Introduction
1 Introduction
Pages 9-21
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From page 9... ...
Uncertainties surround comparative economics with other energy technologies, future demand for electricity and the structure of the grid, the prospects for applications beyond electricity generation, assurance of safety, regulatory hurdles, societal preferences, international market opportunities,2 waste disposition, security, project management, supply chains, nonproliferation, and many more. Although this study acknowledges that expanded utilization of nuclear power presents formidable challenges, the important opportunities provided by advanced reactors warrant exploration.
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From page 10... ...
The average age of the current fleet of reactors is about 40 years (the term allowed in their initial licenses) , and nearly all the plants have had their operating licenses 3 In light of the importance of existing nuclear plants in meeting carbon targets, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $6 billion in subsidies for eligible existing plants in order to facilitate their continued operation.
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From page 11... ...
, making low-carbon electricity generation sources a particular focus in the efforts to reduce carbon emissions. Various electricity generation technologies have differing life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG)
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From page 12... ...
The International Atomic Energy Agency recently concluded that "nuclear is well placed to help decarbonize electricity supply" and that "nuclear power plays a significant role in a secure global pathway to net zero [carbon emissions] ." In 2018, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change considered 90 pathways to limit global average temperature warming to 1.5°C and found that, on average, the pathways require nuclear power across the globe to reach 1,160 GWe capacity by 2050, up from 394 GWe in 2020 (Nuclear Energy Agency 2022)
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Many pathways require global installed nuclear capacity to grow significantly, often more than doubling by 2050 SOURCE: Nuclear Energy Agency, 2022, Meeting Climate Change Targets: The Role of Nuclear Energy, Paris: OECD Publishing, https://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_69396/meeting-climate-change-targets-the-role-of-nuclear-energy. renewable generation is not available or is insufficient; (3)
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From page 14... ...
Moreover, in evaluating the opportunity for nuclear power to address climate change, three crucial timelines must be considered together: the timeline for deployment of low-carbon technologies, the timeline for decarbonization of end-uses, and the timeline to develop and demonstrate new clean energy technologies. As noted above, large LWRs using existing technology will contribute in the near term, but there is little enthusiasm today for their deployment in new construction in the United States.10 Because demonstrations of new and advanced nuclear designs are not expected until the late 2020s or early 2030s, it may be difficult for new nuclear technologies to contribute significantly until the next few decades.
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From page 15... ...
• Completing regulatory approvals in a timely manner for products that are new to the regulator. • Attaining community acceptance for deploying nuclear reactors, both in traditional ways and in first-of-a-kind deployment scenarios (e.g., microreactors as part of a distributed network of electric vehicle charging stations)
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From page 16... ...
The reactor does not use HALEU fuel. For NuScale, transitioning from the first commercial demonstration plant in Idaho to broad commercial deployment will require finding deployment opportunities outside the controlled environment at a DOE site; proving that deployments of a modular plant are desirable to commercial customers and the associated communities; obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, including approvals for sales in countries outside the United States; and building the manufacturing capacity and supply chains for production of multiple modules beyond NuScale's projected 2028 capacity of 12 modules per year.
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From page 17... ...
To transition to wide-scale commercial deployment, TerraPower will need to complete regulatory approval for Natrium; find deployment opportunities outside of the first coal plant retrofit; prove the ability to operate a sodium-cooled system with a high-capacity factor; obtain community acceptance across a wide number of new deployment scenarios; and prove that the concept is economically com petitive. There is also a need to create a source of HALEU fuel for concepts such as the TerraPower Natrium reactor.
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From page 18... ...
A variety of studies have examined the mixture of generation technologies that present the lowest overall economic cost, and most indicate that the optimum mixture includes a significant component of nuclear power in a carbon-constrained world if cost targets for advanced reactors are achieved. Chapter 4 describes the implications of cost projections for various combinations of generation technologies, the supply chain requirements for various deployment levels, government programs to facilitate the demonstration of advanced nuclear technologies, and the policies that may be necessary to encourage their wide-scale commercial deployment.
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Spent fuel in the United States is safely stored at reactor sites in spent fuel pools and in dry-cask storage, but this clearly is not a solution for the long term. Moreover, many of the advanced reactors are pursuing the development and deployment of new fuel cycles, raising economic, 12 Restrictions on the construction of new nuclear power facilities existed in 13 states, but West Virginia, Kentucky, Montana, and Wisconsin have recently ended these restrictions and several other states are considering a change in policy (Tony 2022)
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From page 20... ...
2022. Merits and Viability of Different Nuclear Fuel Cycles and Technology Options and the Waste Aspects of Advanced Nuclear Reactors.
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From page 21... ...
2021. "Life Cycle Assessment of Electricity Generation Options." Geneva: United Nations.
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