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Workshop on Continued Operations Beyond 60 Years in Nuclear Power Plant
Faced with the competing threats of global warming and a looming energy shortfall, NRC is contemplating whether another 20 years of service can be squeezed out of the ageing nuclear power plant without compromising safety. Many believed that the 104 nuclear power plant operating in the USA will be forced to retire faster than industry can replace them, unless regulators act to extend their lives to 80 years from the current 60-years maximum. Though it will be years before any license expires, the debate has urgency because utilities are making decisions that will affect how many nuclear power plants will be built during the next 20 years.
The NRC and Department of Energy (DOE) cosponsored a three day workshop at Washington DC, USA, 19–21 February 2008 to identify areas that may need additional research in order to confirm the ability of currently licensed commercial nuclear power plants to continue safe operation beyond the initial license renewal period (i.e. continued operation beyond 60 years).
As results of the workshop, general observations were:
- 10 CFR 54 (Licensing Renewal Application) has been successfully implemented for the first license renewal and does not need to be changed, however industry suggests that license renewal implementation guidance can be simplified;
- As no absolute barriers ("show stoppers") were identified for beyond 60 years operation, and positive reception expressed by all stakeholders, existing nuclear plants need to remain a significant part of the nation’s energy portfolio to affect climate change and energy security;
- Research is necessary to support plant life extension beyond 60 years and international interest is evident in R&D for plant life extension;
- Potential challenges to optimum long term operation are 1) Ensure systematic capture of operating experience for passive components (current and replacements), 2) Inspection capabilities, predictive diagnostics and 3) Better understanding of analysis limitations in determining service life of equipment;
- Ultimately, plant life extension is a utility business decision.
Identified/suggested R&D Topics are:
- Sustain High Performance of Reactor Materials
- Transition to State-of-the-Art Digital I&C
- Advances in Nuclear Fuel
- Implement Broad-Spectrum Workforce Development
- Implement Broad-Spectrum Infrastructure Improvements & Design for Sustainability
- Electricity Infrastructure-Wide Problems (Non Unique to Nuclear)
- Advanced Fabrication, Construction & Inspection Methods
- Extend the Application of Risk Management Technologies & Understanding of Safety Margins
- Improve Operational Performance
- Expand LWR Technology into New Missions & Markets
- Develop Desalination & Process Heat Technologies