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Let’s get on with it
13 November, 2009
Plans to build new nuclear power plants in the UK gives us an incentive to clear up old reactor sites and to re-evaluate the country’s current decommissioning plans. We have the technical capability to decommission nuclear reactors today – why wait? By David Bradbury, George Elder and Susan Hewish
Mankala makes a move
27 October, 2009
At a cost of EUR4-6 billion, nuclear power plants are simply too expensive for many utilities. Some entrepreneurs have decided to shrink nuclear reactors, cutting costs proportionally. Finnish firm Fennovoima plans to split the massive cost of one or two reactors generating 1500MWe-2500MWe among members of a consortium, in exchange for a share of at-cost electricity scheduled to start from 2020.
Interview: the middle link
28 August, 2009
Doosan Babcock's director of nuclear new build Glen Little speaks to NEI about its efforts to improve the further reaches of the UK supply chain. The UK engineering services and manufacturing company has worked for generations in the UK nuclear power generation industry, and is scaling up to support Westinghouse's AP1000, when a deal is signed in the UK.
The salt solution
10 August, 2009
Four units of Bulgaria’s six-unit Kozloduy nuclear power plant were forced to close as a result of the country’s accession to the EU. As part of the decommissioning process, Onet Technologies won a contract to decontaminate 10 tanks full of solidified, radioactive borated salts from wastewater treatment.
Mixing it up
27 July, 2009
Japan’s site selection process is underway and focussed on finding communities that are willing to host a deep repository. By Corrina Thomson
In at the ground Fluor
21 July, 2009
The South Texas Project is one of the most advanced US new build projects. As EPC contractor Fluor gears up for construction to begin in early 2012, it is looking to set up similar contracts in the UK new-build process. Director of nuclear power operations David Boone and vice-president of business development and strategy Mervyn Sambles speak about the company and its approach to new build.
Beyond ‘one and done’
29 May, 2009
Several operators have moved away from a one-off mentality during refuelling outages (RFOs) to take a longer-term view. Their changes have significantly reduced outage costs and improved execution. By Andy Patterson
PBR safety revisited
01 April, 2009
The safety behaviour of pebble bed reactors (PBRs) may be less benign than earlier assumed. A new study from Forschungszentrum Jülich analysing experience with the AVR reactor suggests that future PBRs require additional safety measures, and that major R&D effort is still necessary. By Rainer Moormann
Breaking the digital logjam
20 February, 2009
The Oconee I&C upgrade project could prove a milestone in establishing fully digital reactor protection as an option for US nuclear plants. By James Varley
Curtains for BEPO
20 February, 2009
Can Harwell awaken the long-dormant memories of its “old-timers” to help speed up the demolition of its biggest pile? By David Fishlock
Concrete progress
20 February, 2009
Iter is progressing despite the global recession. Testing of prototype remote handling machines has started on a mock-up of the divertor region, while building foundations will be laid later this year. By Caroline Peachey and Keith Nuthall