Entries for 'Dan'

U.S. nuclear supply chain spools up  

Nuclear supply chain spools up

Global sourcing meets demand from growing number of new reactor projects

It is one thing to say you are going to build a new 1,000 MW nuclear reactor. It is entirely another to get the parts for one. For starters there is the reactor vessel itself which can only come from one place – Japan Steel Works. Want one? Get line because there is a backlog that puts a new order placed today on schedule for delivery in 2013 or later. That may change as large forges are developed in South Korea, India, and the U.K. If you select an Areva reactor, your pressure vessel will come from the Creusot Forge in France.

There are no plans in the U.S. to develop a large forge capable of handling the 400 ton plus pressure vessels, but there are efforts underway to make everything else. Areva and Northrop Grumman are build a $300 million factory in Newport News, VA. The Shaw Group is building a similar scale facility in Lake Charles, LA.

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Are investors wary of new nuclear builds? 

 Bank report says prospects are going south, but consultants says the real game is managing risk

A new report by Citigroup on the prospects for equity investors in the nuclear energy industry casts doubt on prospects for profits.  While the report is focused on Europe, its authors claim their findings have equal weight in the U.S.  Citing it in the July 2010 issue of the EEnergy Informer, published by Fereidoon P. Sioshansi, Ph.D., a utility consultant, he writes Citigroup's report "New Nuclear – the Economics and Politics" says that for every step forward there is another that takes a step back. 

Separately, a group of analysts at consulting firm Arthur D. Little say the financing isn't so much the problem as managing the risk with the key emphasis on "management." In a June 2010 report titled "Nuclear New Build Unveiled," the firm reports realistic schedules, and managers who understand the complexities of building new nuclear reactors, are the essential elements of managing risk. The report's authors say that failure mode will follow not paying attention to these issues.

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Southern signs $3.4 billion guarantee for new nuclear reactor 

Southern signs $3.4 billion loan guarantee for Vogtle plant

The Southern Company (NYSE:SO) has signed an agreement with the federal government for a loan guarantee covering $3.4 billion in costs for the project which involves two new Westinghouse 1,150 MW AP1000 reactors. CEO David Ratcliffe said in a statement the units are expected to enter revenue service at the utility's Vogtle power station in Waynesboro, GA, in 2016 and 2017.

The agreement marks the formal acceptance of the terms and conditions of the government's "conditional commitment" for the loan guarantee. It becomes final when Southern gets its NRC licenses for the two reactors. Southern received an early site permit in 2009.

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Mitsubishi's growing presence in the U.S. nuclear market 

Mitsubishi's growing presence in Europe and North America

The Japanese heavy manufacturing firm will build reactors via joint ventures

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) as made rapid strides establishing a market presence in the U.S. nuclear industry. In the past three years in North America it has submitted a reactor design for NRC review, inked deals to build new reactors for two U.S. utilities. In Europe the firm will team with Spain's Iberdrola to build a new reactor and is poised to purchase an equity position in Areva, France's state-own vertically integrated conglomerate.

The firm's progress in entering the U.S. market has been a low profile affair, but recent successes have garnered some positive attention.

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Update on Europe's nuclear renaissance 

Developments occur in Germany, Turkey, Italy, the U.K.

There is plenty of news from Europe on the nuclear energy front. Most of it is in the “pro” column, but all of it is influencing the shape of energy policy there. In Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel is facing new challenges to her plan to keep the nation's 17 reactors operating after 2022. In Italy, a key government officials spearheading the country's investment in nuclear energy resigned over corruption charges. However, one of Italy's largest utilities is going ahead with a site selection process for two new reactors. In Turkey the government finally inked a deal with Russia to build four new reactors. The U.K. election created a new government with an anti-nuclear minister in charge of energy policy. Here’s a series of updates.

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Entergy takes a stand at Indian Point 

 

Nuclear utility files an appeal of adverse action on its water permit by the State of New York

After taking it on the chin from environmental groups and a two rounds on the ropes from manifestly hostile agencies of the State of New York, Louisiana-based Energy (NYSE:ETR) got a second wind.  The utility, which owns and operates the two reactors at Indian Point on the Hudson River 50 miles north of New York city, formally appealed the denial of a water quality permit it needs to get their licenses renewed by the NRC.  The licenses for the two reactors at Indian Point expire in 2013 and 2015.

Separately, the State of New York Public Utility Commission staff rejected a planned spin-off of six reactors, including the two in New York.  In response, Entergy cancelled its financial plans for the new merchant group. However, on the licensing issue and the water quality permit in New York the firm has taken a stand.

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Will carbon taxes pay for the nuclear renaisance in the U.K? 

 It is one thing to plan a nuclear renaissance in the U.K.  It is an entirely different matter to pay for it.  The two major parties in the U.K., facing a May election, have added the issue of a floor price for carbon to the election mix.  The issue is how to pay for 11 major new nuclear power stations to replace Britain's aging fleet.  Brownouts by 2017 are a real threat if decisions to build are not made in the next year. 

 

 

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Update on nuclear renaissance in the U.K. 

Update on the nuclear renaissance in the U.K. 

Energy issues are a top priority in the U.K.  Significant challenges are driving decisions to invest in multiple new nuclear reactors at 11 sites powering 16-30 GWe of electricity over the next two decades. The first units are expected to be online by 2017.

The key issues are the original generation of 19 nuclear plants built in the 1970s and 80s are getting older. The first plant began operating in 1956. Some units will be decommissioned in the next five years. All but one of them will be retired by 2023. Second, natural gas supplies from the North Sea fields have a finite life.

Third, the nation can't go back to building new coal plants because of the U.K.'s commitments to cutting greenhouse gases.  Reducing the nation's carbon footprint will require a fundamental revitalization of national will to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2050.

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Changing of the guard at the NRC 

Challenges ahead include license applications, reactor designs, and the pace of development of the nuclear renaissance

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is the gatekeeper for new reactor design, construction, and licensing for this country.  Its safety and environmental requirements for light water reactors are so thorough that they are considered to be the "gold standard" for other countries. The five commissioners who drive policy decisions for the NRC are appointed by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. 

The Obama administration inherited an agency with two vacancies and a Chairman appointed by the prior Republican president.  President Obama appointed then serving NRC Commissioner Gregory Jazcko chairman which moved Dale Klein out of that role while retaining his seat at the NRC.  Klein could have served out his term, but instead submitted his resignation subject to the swearing in of a replacement.

This gave the White House three open slots to fill.  The good news for the nuclear renaissance is that all three nominees have sterling credentials to serve and were confirmed by unanimous consent in the Senate on Friday March 19.  They will be sworn in this coming week.

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The future of spent nuclear fuel 

A blue ribbon commission on spent nuclear fuel will hold its first meeting March 25-26

A panel of nuclear energy experts appointed by the federal government will take up the issue of what to do with 60,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel. Appointed by Department of Energy Sec. Steven Chu, the 15 members of a Blue Ribbon Commission will look at a broad range of options for managing the material and related nuclear waste from the nation’s nuclear reactors. The one choice they won’t have is to use Yucca Mountain in Nevada. That option is off the table.  Read the full details of what issues the panel will discuss and some of the options they'll consider during the next 18 months.

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President Obama supports two new reactors in Georgia 

President Barack Obama finally came out in support of nuclear energy after a year of apparent indifference. This past week he approved $8.3 billion in federal loan guarantees for two new Westinghouse AP1000 1,150 MW nuclear reactors at Southern's Vogtle site. In doing so he also extended a hand across the partisan aisle to Republicans in the Senate in an effort to gain support for pending climate change legislation.

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Stewart Brand in free online web talk Feb 18 

Stewart Brand has a new book out in which the life long environmentalist endorses nuclear energy as a solution to the challenge of climate change.  four profound transformations are under way on Earth right now.

• Climate change is real and is pushing us toward managing the planet as a whole.
• Urbanization-half the world's population now lives in cities, and 80% will by midcentury-is altering humanity's land impact and wealth.
• Biotechnology is becoming the world's dominant engineering tool.
• Nuclear energy is a solution to reducing carbon emissions.

Brand says these changes will require environmentalists to reverse some long held opinions and embrace tools that they have traditionally and profoundly distrusted. 

Also, you can hear Brand talk about his ideas online Feb 18.  Read the blog post for details.

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Nuclear Reactor Scorecard 

The question for the job seeker is which of the nearly 20 new nuclear reactor projects has the best prospects for actually moving forward to construction?  No one wants to invest a few years of a career in a nuclear energy project that bites the dust because of political opposition or inability to get financing.  Project readiness also means having a reactor design that is on time for the U.S. market.

The list of places to look can be boiled down to choices in three broad categories. They are, in baseball terms (1) ducks on the pond, (2) close but no cigar, and (3) sent down to the minors.  Here's a quick review of who's on first.

 This schedule, and the ratings, aren't cast in stone.  Utilities change their minds based on economic conditions, the actions of state and federal regulatory agencies, and the interest of investors. 

Keep in mind that a few years experience at one site can position you for work at new reactor projects later in your career.  Your first job is unlikley to be your last.  Good luck and good job hunting.

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Job Outlook for Class of 2012 

What are the real opportunities in the nuclear energy field for a college graduate with a degree in nuclear engineering? The answer is the opportunities are really good in the U.S., and excellent if you are willing to travel to the U.K., France, India, China, Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. Here's a breakdown of where to look in the spring of 2012 as you contemplate how to turn that sheepskin into cold hard cash.

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Ge Hitachi makes progress on new reactor 

GE Hitrachi's ESBWR reactor has had a rough couple of years, but the firm is now making progress. It has a firm date from the NRC for completion of the safety evaluation report by 2011.  The first orders may come from the U.K. in 2015, but Detroit Edison is also moving ahead with plans for the FERMI III project in Michigan.  Overall, it's longer term prospects are looking better.

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Is nuclear energy gaining support from green groups? 

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More bad news for USEC 

The Energy & Water appropriation does not include $30 million promised by the Department of Energy (DOE) to USEC to help it with its plans to build a uranium enrichment plant in Piketon, OH. It is the second time in recent months that DOE's plans to rescue the project have run into a political firewall.

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TVA's new nuclear deals 

By 2020 the government utility will generate 50% of its power from nuclear reactors

The fullest expression of the nuclear renaissance to date has been in 18 license applications to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) mostly by commercial utilities. In the middle of the pile, the  Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is developing an interesting track record not only in bringing moth balled reactors back to life, but also planning new ones. A nuclear engineer looking for a chance to work on the "big iron" would do well to consider TVA as a place to work.

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Small reactors offer big rewards 

What’s of interest to a nuclear engineer who doesn’t want to get swallowed up in the bureaucracy of a mega utility is that these small reactor projects are organized like Silicon Valley start-ups. Venture capitalists are willing to roll the dice on small reactors.  Two of the small reactor firms, Hyperion and NuScale, landed some of their initial funding from these types of investors.

So, if you have an entrepreneurial fire in your soul, take a look at small reactors.  Here’s a brief profile of some of them.

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Tales of two Texas cities  

There are stark difference in the dialog in two key Texas cities over the role of nuclear energy in the future of electricity supply.  In San Antonio the city council is poised to approve more than $2 billion in new spending over the next decade to support construction of Units 3 & 4 of the South Texas Project (STP).  In Austin, anti-nuclear activists who fought the industry in the 70s are now part of the political establishment and successfully spiked new investments in the plant.  So what accounts for differences?

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Targeting nuclear job growth opportunities 

The nuclear energy industry has two major growth sectors which should be commanding the attention of job seekers with backgrounds in mechanical, electrical, chemical, and nuclear engineering. The sectors the ramping up of design and construction of new plants and license renewals for current operating plants.

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Nuclear indexes track company performance by industry segment 

For people entering the nuclear industry, the usual question is how to present your qualifications.  However, there is a second question in these uncertain economic times. It is how do you qualify a potential employer and their industry?

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Welcome new contributor 

  New blogger in town Jeff Madison, cool guy in charge, welcomes Dan Yurman, publisher of the nuclear energy blog Idaho Samizdat to this site. Dan will be blogging here twice a month. Look for ... read more