From 2GreenEnergy Intern Nikita Rao: The Future of the Nuclear Industry

Nuclear energy is the world’s largest source of emission-free energy. Nuclear power plants don’t produce air pollutants, sulfur or greenhouse gases.

The United States has 65 commercially operating nuclear power plants with 104 nuclear reactors in 31 states around the country. 36 of the plants have two or more reactors. These plants have generated about 20% of U.S. electricity each year since 1990.

Currently the high expense to maintain an old power plant in comparison to the availability of renewable energy is posing a threat to the nuclear power industry. The threat being evident in the shut-down of about 9 nuclear reactors and the cancellation of 4 reactors; two of those being in San Onofre, California and the other in Crystal River, Florida. With the death of five large planned expansion projects, 38 reactors are remaining in 23 states and are at risk of early retirement according to an analysis by “Mark Cooper –senior fellow for economic analysis, Institute for Energy and the Environment, Vermont Law School”.

The renovations and major capital improvements face difficulty in execution. Restoring aging infrastructures and upgrading the technology is not the solution. Much less setting up a new nuclear reactor from scratch, the result being costly in both time and money. To set up a new nuclear reactor is to risk an increase in costs due to delays and overruns.

Small modular reactor (SMR), is a technology completely different than large power plants and is a solution for clean and affordable nuclear power. According to the US EIA , SMRs are smaller than 300MW and are built in modular arrangement, which makes their fabrication and shipment easier, faster and more economical than a traditional scale reactor. 

SMRs are aimed for small electric markets, isolated areas, smaller grids or unique industrial applications and to replace aging fossil fuel plants. Unfortunately, none of the SMR concepts have been designed. Although, that is soon to change for the first agreement has been awarded to the Power America team of  Babcock & Wilcox, Tennessee Valley Authority, and Bechtel.

To help the U.S. industry design and certify innovative SMRs, the Energy Department has offered a funding opportunity. Around 2025, while offering innovative and effective solutions for safety, operations and performance, selected projects will span a five-year period with at least 50 percent provided by private industry. Subject to congressional appropriations federal funding for this solicitation and the project announced last year will be derived from the total $452 million identified for the Department’s Small Modular Reactor Licensing Technical Support program.

REFERENCE: http://www.energydigital.com/renewable_energy/nuclear-industry-may-be-revived