As the proliferation of nuclear power plant building continues, how operations of a prospective plant are considered in the design and construction stage of a new nuclear building are pivotal to its success.
Southern Company are currently going through that process, with its two reactor expansion at their Vogtle plant in Burke County, Georgia, where units 3 and 4 have been designed and construction has now begun, with its subsidiary company Southern Nuclear in charge of the site.
Stages of development
Cheri Collins, Southern Company’s general manager of external alliances, comments on the stages of the development: “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) performed an exhaustive and thorough safety and environmental review of the Westinghouse AP1000 design at the Vogtle 3 and 4 site, consistent with NRC requirements. The NRC determined the Vogtle design is safe, and meets all regulatory requirements. We will incorporate all safety and technology advancements that improve the facility and make it the best value for the citizens of Georgia.”
“The nuclear energy industry is one of the nation’s safest industries. It is protected by multiple back-up safety systems, robust physical defences and plant security forces with rigorous training. Southern Nuclear has robust, comprehensive and NRC-approved security plans that include highly trained security forces,” says Collins.
Under the NRC scope
For any new nuclear building to be constructed, the beady eye of the NRC is always focused on a development, ensuring that its rigid regulations are being met.
A new regulatory process named Inspections, Tests, Analyses and Acceptance Criteria (ITAAC), has been incepted to provide assurances that the plants are being built on combined operating license (COL) principles.
The ITAAC is part of the COL process, and this leaves Southern Nuclear responsible for protecting the health and safety of the public. Before any fuel bundles are loaded into the units all the criteria has to be met, and each unit will have to pass 875 NRC tests over the next five years, highlighting the level of stringency involved.
The units are also governed by the by the NRC’s Construction Reactor Oversight Process, or CROP. The process is an intense construction inspection programme that looks at all facets of developing the building ensuring that regulations are being complied, and also releases reports to the public on the current status of the building.
Lessons learned
Cheri Collins explains the challenges involved and the lessons learnt: “Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4 are being built under the NRC’s new Part 52 licensing process. As with any project of this magnitude, and with a new licensing process, there will be challenges during the course of construction. Our uncompromising focus remains on safety and quality. Our customers expect it and deserve it.”
Collins says that others should perform, as they do, with an aggressive oversight of the entire process. “The NRC adds aggressive oversight, and that’s as it should be. Develop and nurture strong partnerships with all partners as we do contractors, vendors, suppliers to maintain that full understanding of and respect for the regulatory process. Focusing on detail, dedication to the licensing process and aggressive oversight during construction are critical to a seamless project that will successfully bring the Vogtle Units 3&4 on line in 2016 and 2017, respectively,” she explains.
Southern has put a dedicated team in place to “put forth a commendable effort to provide data and meet information requests in a timely, complete and accurate manner”, while respecting the independent, watchdog nature of the NRC,” adds Collins.
First steps
Florida Light and Power (FPL) has proposed and designed two nuclear units, numbers 6 and 7, at its existing Turkey Point site in Miami-Dade County. The submittal for a COL was handed over in 2009, one of 23 COL tenders in the United States made since 2007.
So far, the project has not reached the construction stage yet, and there are no dates that have been set as to when building would begin.
A spokesperson for the utility explains how the design of the plant adhered to the strict regulations of the NRC: “We have not entered the procurement or construction phase of this project at this point in time. As the COL application references the Westinghouse AP1000 design, we will work with Westinghouse to determine their scope of work, and that of other potential contractors.”
“Once the COL is issued, Florida Power & Light Company would then have to initiate construction under the supervision of the NRC. Throughout construction the project would compile inspections, tests, analyses as evidence of meeting acceptance criteria. These would be reviewed by the NRC prior to commercial power operations.”
Eye on the end goal
FPL remains focused on obtaining all licenses and approvals necessary for construction and operation, and in preparation have already specifically positioned themselves behind the ‘first wave’ projects, to leverage observations made by these initial projects incorporating the lessons learned.
But plans could still hang in the balance for Florida utilities as the verdict is still out over spent fuel storage and related costs as well as permitting for new nuclear construction plants.
Florida Public Service Commission (PSC), Progress Energy and Florida Power & Light (FPL), have recently appeared before the Florida Supreme Court to defend an “advance fee” that has allowed the utilities to charge Florida ratepayers for up to $1bn. The money collected, and additional fees approved last year by the PSC, are slated for the construction of new nuclear reactors in Levy County and at Turkey Point, according to the latest news reports coming out of Miami.
Despite some protests the site extension has received strong regulatory support from state and local bodies in Miami so far, and will be hoping for progress in a project that aims to deliver power to 745,000 homes in South Florida.
Source: Nuclear Energy Insider