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Framatome signs contracts with UK’s Sizewell C
France’s Framatome has signed multi-billion euro contracts with Sizewell C Ltd, a standalone company majority-owned by the UK government, laying out the scope of its involvement in the Sizewell C nuclear new build project. This followed the UK Government Investment Decision in November 2022 to approve the construction of two EPR reactors at the Sizewell site on the Suffolk Coast. The two units will generate 3.2 GW of electricity and power the equivalent of 6m homes for 60 years.
Decarbonising nuclear fuel
Enrichment company Urenco has published its net zero strategy setting out its very ambitious plans for Scope 1,2 and 3 emissions reductions. Chris Pye tells NEI about the challenges and early successes in its bid to reduce emissions.
UK sets out nuclear revolution plans
The UK government wants to provide an investment environment that will bring forward a pipeline of new nuclear projects. To do so it is willing to sweep away some longstanding industry assumptions.
Norwegian town begins regulatory zoning work for new NPP
The Norwegian municipality of Heim in Trøndelag county, Norway, has begun regulatory work to establish a zone for the construction of a NPP and cancellation of previous plans for the zone. “The regulatory plan will lay the foundation for the establishment of nuclear power plants, preferably in the form of small modular reactors (SMRs),” the Heim municipality said.
Ukraine begins construction of new units at Khmelnitsky NPP
Workers at Ukraine’s Khmelnitsky NPP have poured a symbolic cubic metre of concrete for two new reactors which are planned to use US Westinghouse technology and fuel. “Today we are talking about the future, we are talking about stability, we are talking about the development of nuclear energy,” said Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko. He added that the plans for Khmelnitsky were Ukraine’s most significant modernisation project since World War II. Also attending the ceremony were Petro Kotin, head of Ukrainian nuclear utility Energoatom; US Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink; and Westinghouse CEO Patrick Fragman.
DOE announces more funding for nuclear energy research and development
The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced more than $59m in funding for 25 US colleges and universities, two national laboratories, and one industry organisation to support nuclear energy research and development and provide access to world-class research facilities. DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy says, with these awards, it has surpassed $1bn in total funding to US colleges and universities since 2009.
KHNP looks to digital twin technology for nuclear plant operations
Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) says it is developing digital twin technology to monitor and control South Korea’s 26 nuclear power units more effectively. A digital model of a physical system will allow its central R&D centre in Daejeon to remotely check the units at all five NPPs – Kori, Wolsong, Hanbit, Hanul and Saeul – and react immediately to unexpected situations.
Tepco to excavate major slope near Fukushima Daiichi’s used fuel pool
Tokyo Electric Power Holdings (Tepco) plans to excavate a massive slope near the used fuel pool at the Fukushima Daiichi NPP to avert the danger of a landslide, according to Asahi Shimbun. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has requested Tepco to deal with the 24-metre-high slope comprising soft ground would present a risk in the event of an earthquake.
ANSTO’s Opal reactor closed for upgrades
The Australian Nuclear Science & Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has closed its Open Pool Australian Lightwater (OPAL) reactor at the Lucas Heights nuclear medicine precinct to undergo necessary upgrades and maintenance. OPAL is a state-of-the-art 20 MWt multi-purpose reactor that uses low enriched uranium (LEU) fuel. The $300m OPAL reactor, supplied by Argentina’s INVAP, was opened in 2007 with an estimated design life of 60 years.