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Koeberg NPP has been preparing to enter LTO once the Regulator approves the LTO license application. The purpose of my presentation is to provide industry operating experience (OPEX) on the use of PSR, SALTO ageing management approach and SALTO peer review to support preparation for LTO. The OPEX will consider the integration of PSR and SALTO, the use of the outcomes of these assessments to develop the safety case for LTO.  The presentation will also share the approach taken in documenting the justification for continued operation and the safety case for LTO. In closure, the presentation will conclude on lessons learnt during the preparation period.

Koeberg NPP considers that the information to be shared will add value to the nuclear industry on the use of the safety and ageing management assessments to support LTO. Koeberg NPP worked with international peers and nuclear agencies to ensure adequate preparation and there are a lot of lessons learnt to be share. 

The presentation addresses some of the aspects related to managing the ageing of structures, systems and components (SSCs) from the initial commissioning phase through subsequent long-term operation (LTO) periods. Effective ageing management of SSCs requires the use of a systematic approach to managing the effects of ageing to ensure that SSCs are able to accomplish their required safety functions throughout the lifetime of the nuclear power plant (NPP).

The U.S. fleet includes 54 reactors that are operating beyond 40 years of service – the longest at 54 years, and there is high interest by the industry to continue to 80 years. Learning from operating experience and proactively addressing technical challenges is essential to achieving that aim. This presentation will share the U.S. NRC’s early experiences in issuing subsequent renewed licenses (60-80 years), highlighting some of the plant-specific and industry-wide technical issues associated with aging plants. Topics will include both current operating issues, including occurrences of failures of buried fire protection piping, and concerns that will gain greater significance later in plant life, such as maintaining fracture toughness margins for the reactor pressure vessel. To support effective management of such issues, the NRC continues to enhance its technical guidance and regulatory oversight processes. Engagement with the international community in forums like the Nuclear Innovation Conference helps to ensure the NRC’s LTO approach is well-informed of global experiences and best practices.

Time-Limited Aging Analyses (TLAAs) is a term directly associated with the Long-Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants. The revalidation of TLAAs is a necessary task to undertake before the plant enters its extended operational period beyond its original design life. In this regard, the international regulatory framework suggests reducing the conservatism applied in the original design calculations as an accepted method to demonstrate whether components within the scope of TLAAs are capable of performing their Safety Functions during the extended period of operation. The current state of technology provides us with an opportunity to achieve this through the improvement of accuracy compared to the original calculations.

EPRI’s efforts to study the option of long-term operation (LTO) or operation beyond the original license period have been underway for decades.  EPRI worked with the U.S. nuclear industry in the 1980’s and 1990’s to research the options and challenges for operation beyond 40 years, which was the original license period for U.S. nuclear power plants.  After extensive studies, both technical and economic, EPRI was able to provide needed technical support for the first license renewal applicants in the late 1990’s.  Due in large part to the success of those first license renewal projects, more than 90% of the 93 nuclear plants currently operating in the U.S. have received regulatory approval to operate for up to 60 years [1] and most of the remaining plants have applications under review or have announced plans to submit applications. 

We've set the date for the second edition of the Nuclear Innovation Conference. We hope to see you at June 5-6 for another energizing conference where we can meet, collaborate and share knowledge on nuclear energy. Pre-registration starts soon!

NEK as a Westinghouse designed plant has primarily followed the requirements and guidelines issued by the U.S. NRC. This is especially relevant to the Ageing management component of Long Term Operation. During that development of the Plant Ageing Management Program, general methodologies were prepared, using 10 CFR part 54 and the GALL Report of NUREG-1801 as the most important references. Before entering the LTO period a substantial Safety Upgrade Program has been performed, which includes Dry storage of Spent fuel, new bunkered Emergency control room, a Bunkered building with two 1500 m3 water storage tanks and a third safety train to remove decay heat through the primary or secondary side, PARs and filtered venting which can operate in design extended conditions. Additionally NEK has aligned its processes to the International practices and standards such as those of the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency) and WENRA. With the preparation for LTO certain organizational changes for Ageing management, additional LTO and AM trainings and process updates have been performed, to more effectively support LTO.

Rigid and reliable design, which is better understood through the operational practice and experience of today, and stable and reliable operation that follows national and international practices – is an essential basis for continuing operation of plant beyond the initially established time frame.

We are hosting the Nuclear Innovation Conference (NIC) 2022 at the NEMO Science Museum in Amsterdam. The building is a striking, copper-green shape rising high above Amsterdam’s eastern docklands. The impressive futuristic building, designed by the Italian architect Renzo Piano and located in the center of Amsterdam, also offers access to the highest Rooftop Square in the Netherlands.

NEMO’s mission is to bring science and technology closer to the public in an interactive and accessible way, in the museum, at schools, at nationwide events and online. At NEMO, everyone – from young to old – discovers how fascinating science and technology are. On five floors crammed full of exhibitions, experiments, demonstrations and workshops, visitors discover how special everyday things are.

We are thrilled that we host our first NIC at this location. The combination of technology, science, architecture and location is one that will enhance the event-experience.

We are rescheduling the Nuclear Innovation Conference, that was planned for 24-25 March 2022. The main reason is that with the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we cannot ensure a healthy and full experience that we intend to offer during this conference. That's why we've decided to host the NIC at 8-9 June 2022. Same location, the same program and the full experience!

If you haven't registered yet, registration for June is open right now! If you already signed up, your registration is automatically transferred to June. Please send us an e-mail if you have any questions about registration. 

Even though we are disappointed to reschedule the event, we also see opportunities to improve the program and ensure that we can provide you the ultimate nuclear networking event in 2022!

In the United States, it was recognized in the early 1980s that the topic of extending the operating licenses for nuclear power plants would need to be addressed.  This prompted activities at the NRC to consider a process for renewing licenses, research activities to demonstrate the feasibility of renewing licenses, and codes and standards activities. 

The Borssele Nuclear Power Plant is the only operating NPP in the Netherlands. It started commercial operation in 1973 and is therefore already 48 years in production. Long term operation is currently scheduled until 2034.

NRG Nuclear Compliance & Projects cluster provides a broad range of ageing management and LTO related services and consultancy. Under the brand name TULIP LTO challenging projects are done for:

Borssele NPP (NL)
Ringhals NPP and Oskarshamn NPP (SE)
Atucha NPP (AR)
Olkiluoto NPP (FI)
HFR research reactor (NL)

While relatively young in the context of traditional nuclear development, Kairos Power’s iterative approach and strong emphasis on early engagement with the regulator have yielded significant experience and tangible licensing results early in the project lifecycle. Kairos Power’s near-term focus is on U.S. licensing and deployment, but the lessons learned through KP-FHR development, testing, and licensing experience are also valuable under different regulatory regimes.

Terrestrial Energy has been engaged in the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission’s (CNSC) Vendor Design Review (VDR) process since 2015 which is an optional service provided by the CNSC when requested by a vendor.

A key aspect in the planning of new-built of a nuclear power plant is licensing. To allow for clear investment decisions and the prevention of cost overruns, it is of paramount importance that a transparent and harmonized licensing framework is provided. It should be possible to provide all relevant requirements and insights of the risks at the beginning of the project.

Our nuclear innovation conference to be held in March next year will focus on what innovations are needed for nuclear energy progression. The relevance of this topic is once again demonstrated by the recent publication of IPCC and by the publication of a Market Consultation report by KPMG.

Jim Reed is the Chief Graphite Engineer in EDF. In this role he has strategic oversight in a particular part of the nuclear power station, the graphite core. The graphite core is one of the key life-limiting issues for the nuclear reactors in the UK. The work to better understand the lifetime is a combination of science and engineering, trying to understand key behavior at the atomic level and how the graphite core as a 1000+ m³ structure behaves in a seismic event. Continue reading for his point of view when it comes to UK lifetime extension activities and energy providers’ business strategies.

The experience and innovation basis of the current fleet of reactors is fundamental for Design, Construction and Operation of new reactors which can improve their performance and availability using the lessons learned from the current LTO programs.  In our innovation roadmap we share our view on the added value of the nuclear industry segments.

On April 6^th 2021, commercial operation of the Burakah Unit 1 has succesfully commenced. The production of 5.6 GWe will provide up to 25% of the electricity within the United Arab Emirates. KHNP talks about their involvement in the development of the first nuclear power project in the Arab world, the other parties involved, their cooperation and their conctractual approach.

A special item on the first advanced reactor system that has been allocated a site in the Western part of the world. The USNC MMR is an inherently safe and modular system, designed to produce energy or heat for industrial processes or hydrogen production. Mark Davies, Vice President – Fuel at USNC, gives an interview on his experience in nuclear technology, his current work at USNC and the future including the MMR technology.