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Nuclear Energy in 2013: Status and Outlook

Nuclear Energy in 2013: Status and Outlook. Briefing for Czech Technical University Scott Peterson, Senior Vice President Nuclear Energy Institute March 11, 2013. Today’s Briefing. Benefits of nuclear energy Enhancing nuclear plant safety Used nuclear fuel management

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Nuclear Energy in 2013: Status and Outlook

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  1. Nuclear Energy in 2013:Status and Outlook Briefing for Czech Technical University Scott Peterson, Senior Vice President Nuclear Energy Institute March 11, 2013

  2. Today’s Briefing • Benefits of nuclear energy • Enhancing nuclear plant safety • Used nuclear fuel management • Short- and long-term outlook for nuclear energy

  3. NEI’s Role Supporting Industry

  4. Nuclear Energy: A Solid Value Proposition Anchor the Local Community: Jobs, Tax Base Fuel and Technology Diversity Forward Price Stability Grid Stability Clean Air Compliance Value

  5. Nuclear Energy’s Value Proposition U.S. Nuclear Plant Capacity Factor (Percent) 89.2% without Crystal River 3, Fort Calhoun and San Onofre 2012 Trends • 10% of electric capacity produces 20% of U.S. electricity • Highest capacity factor of any power source • Consistently low production costs, lower than natural gas and coal • Growing recognition of energy security/ national security benefits 89.6% in 2006 91.8% in 2007 91.1% in 2008 90.5% in 2009 91.2% in 2010 88.9% in 2011 86.4% in 2012 (est.) Sources: Energy Information Administration, Nuclear Regulatory Commission

  6. Consistently High Safety Performance • Nuclear energy is safe. Fleet safety performance is consistently high and remained so during 2012 • Major events are rare; most measures of safety focus on lesser, precursor events that are resolved • Most recent report from the NRC’s Industry Trend Program: No significant adverse trends in industry safety performance

  7. Response to the Fukushima Accident

  8. NRC Top Requirements • Enhance ability to maintain cooling and containment integrity during a severe event • Enhance spent fuel pool instrumentation • Re-evaluate potential seismic and flooding hazards • Ensure reliable and accessible hardened containment vents • Re-evaluate emergency communications systems and staffing levels for multi-reactor events

  9. Industry’s FLEX Approach Enhances Safety • FLEX is a system of comprehensive, tailored safety measures to respond to extreme events • 67 sites around the country maintain backup portable safety equipment • More portable, backup safety equipment being added at all 65 plant sites to respond to natural events • Two regional response centers being developed and equipped to provide another layer of backup equipment • More than 1,500 pieces of equipment added • FLEX approach is being emulated by industry in other countries

  10. National Network for Equipment Sharing

  11. Perceived Safety of Nuclear Power Plants • Thinking about the nuclear power plants that are operating now, how safe do you regard these plants? Please think of a scale from "1" to "7," where "1" means very unsafe and "7" means very safe. The safer you think they are, the higher the number you would give. Bisconti Research, Inc. with GfK Roper survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, Feb. 8-10, 2013

  12. Favorability to Nuclear Energy • Overall, do you strongly favor, somewhat favor, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the use of nuclear energy as one of the ways to provide electricity in the United States? Bisconti Research, Inc. with GfK Roper survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, Feb. 8-10, 2013

  13. Safely Managing Used Nuclear Fuel • Spent fuel stored at reactor sites awaiting U.S. Department of Energy management • Yucca Mountain repository project licensing application review suspended in 2010 • Blue Ribbon Commission investigates new path toward responsible stewardship • Meanwhile, U.S. government is paying damages and courts are considering lawsuits related to license review and tax on consumers

  14. Used Fuel Management Policy Update • Early stages of developing consensus on how to restructure program • Industry endorses: • Complete Yucca Mountain licensing • Implement consent-based siting for consolidated storage facility • Develop new management entity with access to funds necessary to complete mission • Develop permanent disposal facility (at Yucca Mountain or elsewhere)

  15. New Nuclear Development

  16. New U.S. Reactor Projects • Five reactors under construction • Watts Bar 2, online in 2015 • Vogtle 3 & 4 (AP1000), online in 2017, 2018 • Summer 2 & 3 (AP1000), online in 2017, 2018

  17. Vogtle AP1000 Project in Georgia Crews at the largest construction project in Georgia’s history prepare Vogtle 3 for 6-foot-thick concrete basemat

  18. Summer AP1000 Project in South Carolina Containment vessel: lower head and rings Rebar placement at Summer 2 excavation pit

  19. Global Market Leadership • Westinghouse has built 25 reactors in the EU, 4 AP1000s are being built in China, 4 in the U.S. • Modular construction techniques allow for distribution of in-country jobs and concurrent assembly • U.S. nuclear technology is a strategic element of U.S. foreign policy: export technology and safety culture • AP1000 expansion in global markets could create additional markets, jobs for Czech-based suppliers and service providers

  20. Questions?

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