Nuclear Energy Insight
June 2007—Operation of the refurbished Browns Ferry 1 reactor in Alabama in late May provides an excellent case study for other energy companies interested in building new nuclear power plants in the United States.
The Tennessee Valley Authority’s reactor had been shut down for more than two decades, yet the five-year, $1.8 billion restart effort has important implications for the construction of new U.S. nuclear plants. Perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates the ability of the industry to undertake major projects and complete them on time and within budget expectations.
For the industry, which has been taking steps toward building new reactors, TVA’s accomplishment is welcome news. Today, 16 companies and consortia are exploring the construction of as many as 30 new reactors.
“Returning Browns Ferry Unit 1 to our nuclear fleet gives TVA another dependable, safe and emissions-free source of generation to help meet the growing demand for power in the Tennessee Valley,” said TVA President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Kilgore.
What may be viewed as a watershed for the industry began as a simple business decision for TVA. To determine whether it should restart Browns Ferry 1, it completed a detailed analysis of the project to ensure that it was the most cost-effective approach and compared it to other large-scale electric generating options.
The company said that the environmental impact of Browns Ferry also played a role in the decision. The fact that nuclear power plants produce no greenhouse gases is becoming a more significant benefit as concerns about climate change increase.
“Restarting Browns Ferry 1 is an important step toward meeting rising energy demand while also protecting the environment,” said Patrick Moore, co-founder of Greenpeace and co-chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition. He added that with the plant operating “approximately 8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide will be avoided each year and electricity will be provided to over 600,000 homes.”
In 2002, the TVA board approved the project, and almost exactly five years later, the project is essentially complete. Operators continued to test and analyze the 1,150-megawatt reactor before proceeding with normal operations. The plant returned to the grid June 2.
The restart was no small feat. Over peak months of the project, an average of 2,400 workers were on site. They installed 200 miles of electrical cable, 9 miles of pipe and nearly 200 tons of structural steel.
“Browns Ferry 1 will provide electricity to homes and businesses in one of the fastest growing regions of the country. We believe this project will mark the beginning of nuclear energy’s rejuvenation in the United States,” said Skip Bowman, NEI president and chief executive officer.
—Read more articles in Nuclear Energy Insight and Insight Web Extra.