An Overview of New Nuclear Ambitions in the UK | NOT ... · A subsidiary created by EDF Energy to...

An Overview of New Nuclear Ambitions in the UK | NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED | ©27 Nov 2018 EDF Energy plc. All rights Reserved.

1

An Overview of New Nuclear Ambitions in the UK | NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED | ©27 Nov 2018 EDF Energy plc. All rights Reserved.

2

An Overview of New Nuclear Ambitions in the UKPete Bryant

Decommissioning and Radiological Assessment Specialist

Introduction

• Across the world we are seeing a resurgence in nuclear new build with a current estimated 160 new reactors planned for construction and an additional 300 proposed.

• In the UK alone plans and in some cases even construction is under way for the construction of 4 UK EPR style reactors, 4 Advanced Boiling Water Reactors (ABWR) and the UK HPR1000 reactor design is going through the GDA process.

• These reactors are to be operated by 2 newly formed licensees within the UK, a number of which are funded by joint ventures.

• The following talk provides an overview these New Nuclear Projects, the Regulatory / Consenting Process they go through and an update on the progress of the most advanced of the projects Hinkley Point C.

• In addition, a discussion will be held on some of the key challenges encountered in these projects within Radiation Protection and its allied fields.

An Overview of New Nuclear Ambitions in the UK | NOT PROTECTIVELY MARKED | ©27 Nov 2018 EDF Energy plc. All rights Reserved.3

EDF Energy and CGN

A subsidiary created by EDF Energy to build and then operate two new nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom.

UK EPR is the design for the following sites:

• Hinkley Point C in Somerset• Sizewell C in Suffolk

The projects are to be partially funded by China General Nuclear Power Corporation (CGN). In return NNB GenCo is supporting CGN in the construction of a HPR1000 at Bradwell B.


UK EPR

• Formerly called the European / Evolutionary Pressurised Reactor

• Collaboration between AREVA and Siemens.

• Generation 3+ Plant - Pressurised Water Reactor

• High power output 1600 MWe 4 loop design (36-37% efficiency)

• Four independent and redundant safety systems for emergency core cooling.

• Impact resistant containment.

• ‘Novel’ feature is the molten core retention system.


HPR 1000

• The HPR1000 is a pressurised water reactor (PWR) that has been developed by CGN.

• Generation 3+ Plant - Pressurised Water Reactor

• High Power Output 1170 MWe design (36-37% efficiency)

• Robust design with three separate safety systems.

• Improved design features following the Fukushima disaster review, which includes enhanced safety features


Horizon Nuclear Power

A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd.

Horizon Nuclear Power is a UK energy company developing a new generation of nuclear power stations at:

• Wylfa on Anglesey, and • Oldbury, South Gloucestershire.

GE Hitachi’s Advanced Bowling Water Reactor is the proposed design for the sites


UK ABWR

• GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy design and evolution of BWR family

• The main difference from the PWR is that the water in the core boils into steam that directly drives the turbine – There is only one coolant loop.

• Power output of 1350 MWe

• ABWR is fully automated in response to a LOCA – operator action not required for 72 hours


Small Modular Reactors

• SMRs are made using standardised factory-manufactured parts delivered ready for assembly.

• SMRs have generated government and industry interest internationally because designers have suggested SMRs may offer lower investment risk, reduced cost and greater compatibility with a flexible electricity network.

• So far, no commercial SMR has been built worldwide and there is considerable uncertainty around their costs, timescales and challenges.


Small Modular Reactors

• SMR designs based on smaller versions of existing technology are expected to be commercially available for construction within 10 years.

• UK industry is developing different designs, including some supported by the Government’s Advanced Modular Reactors programme and the 2018 Nuclear Sector Deal.

• Potential uses of SMRs in the UK and abroad could be limited by access to new sites, and regulatory and planning matters.


UK Nuclear Legal Framework


UK Nuclear Legal Framework

• The UK Nuclear Legal Framework is complex with the previous slide listing only the principal acts of parliament concerning all Nuclear Installations.

• These acts cover the legal requirements which the nuclear industry must comply with, but in addition there are a number of international legal instruments.

• The day to day regulation of a Nuclear Facility primarily stems from:

- The Nuclear Installations Act 1965/69 as amended, which is regulated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

- The Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 (as amended), which is regulated by the Environment Agency in England and Natural Resources Wales.

- Environmental Authorisations (Scotland) Regulations 2018 (EA(S)R), which is regulated by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency in Scotland.


Nuclear Installations Act 1965/69

• The main act of parliament that relates to Nuclear Power Plants and other Nuclear Establishments. This act:

• Requires a site licence to be issued prior to the construction and operation of a Nuclear Facility.

- Established the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

- Puts absolute liability on the licencee.

• Absolute liability means that a company, irrespective of negligence, is liable for personal injury to any person and/or damage to third party property, attributable to nuclear matter.

• The ONR is the responsible body which legislates and grants licenses for all nuclear activities from the time an application is first received to design and construct an installation, to long after the plant finally closes.

• In addition to regulating Nuclear Safety, ONR independently regulates security at the 37 nuclear licensed sites in the UK. ONR also regulate transport and ensure that safeguards obligations for the UK are met.


Environmental Permitting Regulations 2016 (as amended)• In England and Wales the control of radioactive substances and in particular

radioactive waste is governed by Schedule 23 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations (aka the Radioactive Substances Regulations). This includes:

- The storage and use of radioactive materials, and

- The accumulation and disposal of radioactive waste.

• It is regulated by the Environment Agency in England and Natural Resources Wales.

• In the case of Nuclear Establishments storage and use of radioactive materials and accumulation of radioactive waste is regulated by the Office for Nuclear Regulation, via the Nuclear Site License. In this instance the RSR Permit only covers disposal of radioactive waste.

• In Scotland control of radioactive substances is regulated under EA(S)R, this requires an authorisation rather than a permit.


Overview of the Main Regulatory Milestones in New Build


Generic Design Assessment

• GDA is an upfront, step-wise assessment of a generic reactor design undertaken by the regulators (this includes ONR, EA and NRW.

• Aims to identify and resolve key issues and design changes long before build -effective and efficient use of regulatory resources, whilst reducing construction cost and time risks.

• Enabling Approach - providing clarity on regulatory requirements reducing project commercial risks whilst optimising the safety and environmental performance of the design.

• Openness, transparency and public input - building public confidence.

• Undertaken in a number of steps, each with increasing levels of scrutiny:

- Step 1 - Preparation

- Step 2 - Overview of Claims

- Step 3 - Review of Arguments

- Step 4 - Detailed Assessment of Evidence

- Closure Phase - GDA Issues


DCO and Licensing

• To build a new nuclear power station a Development Consent Order (DCO) application must be submitted to The Planning Inspectorate.

• A DCO is the means of obtaining permission for developments categorised as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP).

• This process involves a significant period of consultation and can take several years to complete.

• Prior to granting licence, ONR needs to be satisfied that:

- The applicant’s choice of site is suitable,

- That it understands the hazards and risks of the activities that it proposes to carry out,

- Also need to gain confidence that the applicant has the organisational capability to lead and manage for safety effectively.


Environmental Permits

In the case of NNB, 3 operational permits will be required:

Water Discharge Activity

• Cooling water return activity

• Trade effluent streams

• Cooling water abstraction (impact on fish population)

Combustion Activity

• Emergency Diesel Generators

• Ultimate Diesel Generators

• Other combustion appliances greater than 1MWth

Radioactive Substances Activities

• All activities involving the use of Radioactive Substances and giving rise to releases of Radioactive Material.

• Covers Disposal of Radioactive Waste via Air, Water and in Solid Form.

• (For nuclear sites Storage and Accumulation is covered under the NSL).


Interface with the EURATOM Treaty (Article 37)

• General Data submitted by UK government under Article 37 of Euratom treaty.

• Submission relates to disposal of radioactive waste which could result in the radioactive contamination of another Member State.

• Submission prepared by the Operator on behalf of the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy.

• Interfaces with the RSR permit & Nuclear Site License application and other permits for consistency. As such engagement with EA and ONR also required.

• Opinion required on Article 37 submission to enable granting of RSR permit.

• Oral Hearing most likely required for all NNB Projects.


Construction

• Once the nuclear site licence has been granted, the licensee must comply with the relevant provisions of NIA65 and all the conditions that ONR has attached to the licence.

• ONR’s activity focuses on equipment procurement, construction, design modification and pre-commissioning issues and the development of the licensee’s organisation.

• ONR expects the licensee to provide a PCSR to support the start of nuclear safety related construction - takes credit for activity provided in GDA.

• Staged permissioning of construction, commissioning and operation through series of ‘hold-points’ provides regulatory control.


Current Status of the New Build Projects


HPC

SZC

BRB

WYLFA

Update on Progress - HPC


Any

Questions?


An Overview of New Nuclear Ambitions in the UK | NOT ... · A subsidiary created by EDF Energy to...

Documents

Transcript of An Overview of New Nuclear Ambitions in the UK | NOT ... · A subsidiary created by EDF Energy to...