NUCLEAR PROJECTS
reactors were permanently closed in 2017 . In Germany , Gundremmingen-B was closed in December as part of the country ’ s nuclear phase-out policy . South Korea and Sweden both shut down their oldest units - Kori-1 and Oskashamn-1 . In addition , two more Japanese reactors , Ohi-1 and -2 were officially closed after the operator abandoned plans for restart and lifetime extension .
The past 20 years has seen the industry place more emphasis on sustainability and focus on
‘ 160 power reactors ( with a total gross capacity of some 160,000 MWe ) are on order or planned , and over 300 more are proposed ’ the potential for extending the operating life of NPPs . It ’ s often more economical than building a new one , and why many plant operators , particularly in the US , are seeking licence renewals . “ It is very important for us as a world community to care how electricity is produced ,” reckons Maria Korsnick , President and CEO of the Nuclear Energy Institute ( NEI ), who offers hope for NPP construction specialists nervous about the rise of renewables . “ You can produce electricity of an intermittent nature , like wind and solar , but you are going to also need 24 / 7 baseload energy supply that is still kind to the environment , and nuclear is just that .”
Utilising guidance from the International Atomic Energy Agency ( IAEA - the world ’ s central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field ) the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission ( NRC ) issues licences for NPPs to operate for up to 40 years with subsequent renewals of up to 20 years . Following a round of previous renewals , around 90 % of American plants will soon reach the end of their 60-year term , prompting the NRC to look at the way it handles
30 February 2018