Nuclear Power Engineering

Strategic Support for Expansion of Nuclear Power


Expansion Programme


CNNC-SMNPC AP1000

To help offset growing national energy demands, energy security issues, environmental concerns, etc., a number of countries are still giving high priority to expanding their existing nuclear power programmes despite the Fukushima accident. Thirty countries currently operate nuclear power plants, although the shares of national nuclear generated electricity vary greatly from country to country. Among them twenty-four of these countries plan to add one or more reactor units. The future expansion of nuclear power globally will be driven primarily by those countries that already have nuclear power plants.

Expectations for nuclear power's future remain high. As of 31 December 2011, 435 nuclear power reactors were in operation worldwide and a total of 64 reactors (61 GWe) were under construction. Current expansion, near term and long term growth prospects are centred in Asia, where the greatest expansion in energy needs is also expected. Many countries in Europe and North America also expect to expand their nuclear programmes, although construction has started on only a few new reactors. In some European countries, where restrictions had previously been put on the future use of nuclear power, a trend towards reconsidering these policies.

Nuclear power expansion requires careful consideration and a meticulous process. Issues must be successfully addressed in order to safely build new reactors, even with experience and an existing programme in operation. The IAEA can assist in determining the important issues for the successful expansion of nuclear power programmes including the project development and implementation phases of a new nuclear power plant project.


Upcoming


Brochure "Strategies for the Expansion of the Nuclear Power Programme"

This brochure outlines important issues to be considered to successfully expand an existing nuclear power programme and provides a brief overview of key areas in the project development and implementation phases of a new nuclear power plant project.

BIDEVAL Software

The IAEA Nuclear Power Engineering Section is upgrading the computer program package for economic bid evaluation, Bideval-3. Bideval is a set of computer programs designed to assist the user in the economic evaluation of bids for nuclear power plants. Bideval-3 is the second upgrade of the original version developed in 1986 for use on personal computers. The upgrade is designed for use on PCs under Windows 7/Windows XP.


Activities in 2012


Date Meeting Location
27 Feb
2 Mar		 Consultancy meeting to upgrade the BIDEVAL-3 software IAEA, Vienna,
Austria
25-29 Jun Consultancy meeting on Strategies for the Expansion of Nuclear Power Program IAEA, Vienna,
Austria
27-31 Aug Consultancy meeting on the Overall Contract Management of Nuclear Power Plant Projects IAEA, Vienna,
Austria
23-26 Sep Joint IAEA and EUCG Technical meeting/workshop on the Cost Management of the Nuclear Power Plant Denver, US
16-19 Oct Strategies for the Expansion of Nuclear Power Programme-Tropical Issues on the Strategic Partnership Beijing, China


Publications

  • Invitation and Evaluation of Bids for Nuclear Power Plants
    IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NG-T-3.9, 2012

  • Initiating Nuclear Power Programmes:
    Responsibilities and Capabilities of Owners and Operators
    IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NG-T-3.1, 2009

  • Issues to Improve the Prospects of Financing Nuclear Power Plants
    IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NG-T-4.1, 2009



Please contact NENP Engineering Section - Contact Point if you have any questions.