As the world faces increasing demand for clean reliable energy, the interest in deployment of new nuclear power (NNP) projects is increasing. This is in large part due to the emergence and convergence of multiple priorities. These include the need for dispatchable, reliable and resilient electricity to power the rapid growth and electrification of a data-driven society, the need for greater energy independence and security, and commitments to decarbonize. Nuclear energy sits at the nexus of these forces, creating the need and opportunity for a large build-out of new, relatively standardized NNP projects to meet national and international goals.
A large build-out of standardized nuclear power plants creates an opportunity for the development and utilization of fleet operations models that realize greater effectiveness, efficiency, and cost savings over models utilized in the existing nuclear power plant fleet. This paper focuses on providing future owners/operators of NNP fleets with a framework as well as key considerations for the development of fleet operations models to capture those benefits. To realize these benefits, future fleet operations models will be built on standardization, centralization, and collaboration as the three primary pillars underpinning the framework. Each is critical to developing and utilizing a fleet operations model that is effective, efficient, and suitable for the owners/operators of NNP fleets.