Key Issues
Expanded Manufacturing Capacity Needed to Support New Nuclear Plant Construction
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April 2007
Key Facts
April 2007
Key Facts
- Companies and consortia are pursuing plans to build more than 30 new nuclear power plants to meet projected increases in U.S. electricity demand. However, the infrastructure for building new nuclear plants has diminished because few plants have been built outside of Asia. As a result, the industry may face difficulties obtaining components necessary to build new nuclear plants, as well as experienced construction management, engineering personnel and skilled workers.
- The industry anticipates that construction may begin on as many as 17 new nuclear plants in the United States and 30 overseas over the next six years, causing a dramatic increase in demand for components.
- An internal Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) study identified several potential manufacturing constraints that could hinder the construction of new nuclear power plants: component design and engineering, supply of raw materials and subcomponents, work force, qualified suppliers of nuclear plant components, specialized equipment and machinery, and global infrastructure for heavy forgings. The study provides recommendations to minimize these potential constraints on new-plant construction.