New Approach Leverages Standardization

Two more companies have submitted license applications for new nuclear reactors, bringing the total number now under U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission review to four, including an application from NRG Energy Inc. in August and a partial application from UniStar Nuclear in July. 

Dominion filed an application with the NRC to build a third reactor at its North Anna site in central Virginia.  This is the first combined construction and operating license (COL) application based on General Electric’s 1,520-megawatt ESBWR reactor design.  In October, NuStart Energy—a consortium of 10 companies—and the Tennessee Valley filed the first application based on the Westinghouse AP1000 reactor design, for two reactors at TVA’s Bellefonte site in Alabama. 

“As the third complete license application for a new nuclear power plant submitted in less than three months, today’s announcement by Dominion demonstrates continued momentum for the expansion of safe, emissions-free nuclear energy to power a secure and affordable energy future,” said Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Dennis Spurgeon after Dominion’s announcement.

Just a week before Dominion’s Nov. 27 filing, the NRC authorized an early site permit for a new reactor at North Anna, signaling the resolution of many site-related safety and environmental issues.  This is the third such permit the NRC has issued.

The early site permit is valid for 20 years, but the NRC must approve Dominion’s COL application before the company may begin any significant construction.  If it receives NRC approval—expected to take about four years—Dominion said a new plant could begin operating in 2015.

As the first COL applications for the ESBWR and AP1000 reactor designs, the Dominion and NuStart filings will serve as the reference documents for all future applications based on the same designs, which will help streamline NRC review of all ESBWR and AP1000 licenses.  Three other U.S. energy companies plan to build ESBWRs, while four other companies are considering the AP1000.

The industry’s goal is to develop a new generation of nuclear plants in “families” of federally approved designs.  Standardizing reactor designs—an approach applied successfully in France—can reduce construction costs and lead to greater efficiencies in licensing and plant operation, including safety, maintenance, training and spare-parts procurement.

The industry and the NRC have been working toward standardization since the agency issued new guidelines for reactor licensing 18 years ago.  The NRC rules provide for safety certification of nuclear plant designs and the COL review process. 

The industry’s standardized application approach will enhance the efficiency of regulatory reviews.  Instead of reviewing applications for markedly different designs among multiple applicants, the NRC will be able to focus its resources on a single design used by all those applicants. 

“Submittal of this application is the next key step in the process,” said Bill McCollum, chief operating officer at TVA.  “The NRC’s thorough and comprehensive review will help build certainty into the regulatory schedule for this and future applications.”

Both Dominion and NuStart will share the costs associated with COL applications with the U.S. Department of Energy through the agency’s Nuclear Power 2010 program.

“[The] Nuclear Power 2010 initiative has paved the way for the industry to work together as never before to develop technical, regulatory and other opportunities that can renew nuclear energy in the United States,” said NuStart President Marilyn Kray.

The COL filings garnered praise from state and federal legislators.

“Nuclear power is our best source of clean, safe and reliable energy, and it can be produced here at home without any further reliance on foreign sources of energy,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.).  “Increasing our ability to generate nuclear power is a critical step to providing the [Tennessee] Valley with the affordable baseload power that its growing economy will require.”

“It is clear that momentum for nuclear energy in America is continuing to grow,” said Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.).  After 30 years with no action, we have now seen three applications to build new plants in the last three months, with even more possible in the near future.”