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OKIsItJustMe

(19,933 posts)
46. Secretary Chu Statement on AP1000 Reactor Design Certification
Thu Dec 22, 2011, 08:02 PM
Dec 2011
http://energy.gov/articles/secretary-chu-statement-ap1000-reactor-design-certification
[font face=Times, Serif][font size=5]Secretary Chu Statement on AP1000 Reactor Design Certification [/font]

[font size=3]December 22, 2011 - 3:25pm

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu issued the following statement today in support of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s (NRC) decision to certify Westinghouse Electric’s AP1000 nuclear reactor design, a significant step towards constructing a new generation of U.S. nuclear reactors. In February 2010, the Obama Administration announced the offer of a conditional commitment for a $8.33 billion loan guarantee for the construction and operation of two AP1000 reactors at Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generation Plant in Burke, Georgia.

“The Administration and the Energy Department are committed to restarting America’s nuclear industry – creating thousands of jobs in the years ahead and powering our nation’s homes and businesses with domestic, low-carbon energy,” said Secretary Chu. “Today’s decision certifying the AP1000 reactor design marks an important milestone towards constructing the first U.S. nuclear reactors in three decades.”

[font size=4]BACKGROUND INFORMATION[/font]

The Energy Department’s offer of a conditional commitment supports two new 1,100 megawatt Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors at the Vogtle plant, supplementing the two existing reactor units at the facility. The project is expected to create approximately 3,500 onsite construction jobs and 800 permanent jobs once the reactors become operational.

The Energy Department has also engaged in cost-share agreements with industry to provide technical assistance and application support for new reactor design certification, including for the Westinghouse AP1000. These efforts have served to help American companies lead the way in obtaining certification and licensing approvals, helping to streamline these processes for future investments in the U.S. nuclear industry. [/font][/font]


http://www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com/

http://www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com/ap1000_safety.html
[font face=Times, Serif][font size=3]



The AP1000® pressurized water reactor works on the simple concept that, in the event of a design-basis accident (such as a coolant pipe break), the plant is designed to achieve and maintain safe shutdown condition without any operator action and without the need for ac power or pumps. Instead of relying on active components such as diesel generators and pumps, the AP1000 relies on the natural forces of gravity, natural circulation and compressed gases to keep the core and containment from overheating. However, many active components are included in the AP1000, but are designated as non safety-related.

Multiple levels of defense for accident mitigation are provided, resulting in extremely low core-damage probabilities while minimizing occurrences of containment flooding, pressurization and heat-up.

The AP1000 meets the U.S. NRC deterministic-safety and probabilistic-risk criteria with large margins. Results of the Probabilistic Risk Assessment (PRA) show a very low core damage frequency (CDF) that is 1/100 of the CDF of currently operating plants and 1/20 of the maximum CDF deemed acceptable for new, advanced reactor designs.

The following features contribute to defense-in-depth of the AP1000:

Non-Safety Systems
Passive Safety-Related Systems
In-vessel Retention of Core Damage
[/font][/font]
More stupidity, MadHound Dec 2011 #1
The millions of tons of coal being burned speaks to the need. TheWraith Dec 2011 #3
Time and again, you try to paint this as a binary decision, coal or nulcear, MadHound Dec 2011 #6
Solar and wind still produce barely 2.5% of our electricity. TheWraith Dec 2011 #7
Yes, you are correct, that is the current situation. MadHound Dec 2011 #8
That is bullshit written by people that know nothing about power grids badtoworse Dec 2011 #93
Ever hear of the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)? Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #94
Are you serious? AtheistCrusader Dec 2011 #97
Speaking of that quakerboy Dec 2011 #100
You might want to check your facts... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #133
I was told quakerboy Dec 2011 #176
I know there are times where there's so much wind power coming out of the Columbia River area XemaSab Dec 2011 #177
Well, we closed our last coal plant in Washington State. AtheistCrusader Dec 2011 #140
Good!> Survivoreesta Dec 2011 #109
No, we should not reject nuclear outright. Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #134
Actually, our most important goal sulphurdunn Dec 2011 #154
Texas has 10,000+ MW of wind generation right now, and that will double in five years mbperrin Dec 2011 #102
do you know how much natural gas spinning reserve nuclear needs for backup? kristopher Dec 2011 #104
Apparently you don't either. FBaggins Dec 2011 #108
260MW of on-line natural gas back-up required for each reactor. That's a lot. kristopher Dec 2011 #124
It would be... if it were true. FBaggins Dec 2011 #136
Hearsay? kristopher Dec 2011 #159
How long can the Presidio, TX battery protect the city? FBaggins Dec 2011 #106
It's good for 8 hours for the entire town. These batteries are not for momentary fluctuations. mbperrin Dec 2011 #139
Then you were stretching a great deal to call it a "city" FBaggins Dec 2011 #141
Okay, now you are being purposefully obtuse and insulting as well. 4,000 people are nothing to you? mbperrin Dec 2011 #144
No... you're changing the subject. FBaggins Dec 2011 #148
good job fascisthunter Dec 2011 #186
Bologna quakerboy Dec 2011 #105
How about scaling down the "grid," RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #112
What about spinning reserve, bad power days etc? ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #121
The more varied inputs we bring to the grid... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #149
More varied inputs is not compatible with scaling down the grid jeff47 Dec 2011 #153
There are projects in the works to use RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #161
You need to familiarize yourself with the way "distributed generation" works. kristopher Dec 2011 #163
Shrinking the grid is not my goal... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #169
Gee they have an 11 MW Li-ion battery at a wind farm in Hawaii jpak Dec 2011 #189
I sure hope you stick around for a long time. Your reply is just plain good! ThomWV Dec 2011 #119
You have the lesson of load following exactly backwards kristopher Dec 2011 #129
Same thing you do if a concentrating solar, geothermal, hydro source goes down. AtheistCrusader Dec 2011 #143
Really? kristopher Dec 2011 #162
The Grand Coulee dam rips out about 7,000mw AtheistCrusader Dec 2011 #185
Nonsense - Denmark produces 20% of electricity from wind jpak Dec 2011 #188
Denmark is a peninsula in the Baltic Sea. tabasco Dec 2011 #205
The steppes of northern China is a *hugh* wind source - China is the world leader in wind power jpak Dec 2011 #209
Actually... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #92
New Large Scale Generation could be accomplished with RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #110
and it can NEVER be more than 2.5% jpak Dec 2011 #187
Thank you--this fake dichotomy is a continuous disinformation talking point diane in sf Dec 2011 #29
I'm hoping not to just shut down coal DissedByBush Dec 2011 #90
do you understand how dangerous nuclear is? fascisthunter Dec 2011 #123
They. stonecutter357 Dec 2011 #156
well, it goes to sow how little a conscience some really have fascisthunter Dec 2011 #167
ME stonecutter357 Dec 2011 #196
Can renewables really do the job in the northeast with the large dense cities, long winters, etc? ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #9
Umm, no MadHound Dec 2011 #17
Great Idea But, Throckmorton Dec 2011 #19
Well then, I guess we'll have to use the transmission lines that we already have MadHound Dec 2011 #22
Sorry... There isn't. FBaggins Dec 2011 #49
Really? You sure about that? MadHound Dec 2011 #55
Well then. NutmegYankee Dec 2011 #62
Absolutely sure. Yes. FBaggins Dec 2011 #63
Why does the NE need wind from the midwest? kristopher Dec 2011 #67
The wind doesn't blow every day in the NE NutmegYankee Dec 2011 #73
Yes it does. kristopher Dec 2011 #75
You're funny. NutmegYankee Dec 2011 #76
No, no, let's get to the bottom of this and see who is correct. kristopher Dec 2011 #77
Do your research - wind power potential in the NE is very good - look up the maps jpak Dec 2011 #191
Vast majority of it is offshore with markedly hight costs ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #201
Sorry - the current goal is 2000 MW of on-shore wind capacity by 2020 jpak Dec 2011 #203
That is theoritical, lets see annual yield ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #204
No - that's nameplate capacity (no "theory" involved) jpak Dec 2011 #208
Capacity != actual production ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #210
That was factored into the goal of 2000 MW - we know better up here! jpak Dec 2011 #211
You still do not understand or cannot answer the question being asked ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #212
I know all about it - sorry jpak Dec 2011 #213
Others from Maine disagree with you ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #214
They do not know what they are talking about jpak Dec 2011 #215
And wind in Maine isn't working for shit Maine_Nurse Dec 2011 #80
The problem with offshore is cost ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #116
Nonsense - electricity costs in N. ME are declining because of the Mars Hill wind farm jpak Dec 2011 #192
What about the offshore winds? n/t RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #113
Costs are much higher for maritime installations than shore based ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #115
Yeah, BUT RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #178
Or running a modern fossil fueled plant of some sort ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #180
Question is, will they take into account ALL costs RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #195
Some I think would be ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #197
And why should the cost of energy... RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #206
Because the orginization running the plant is not considered accountable for them ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #207
It doesn't. FBaggins Dec 2011 #78
No, that is the scenario you selected to make a false argument kristopher Dec 2011 #79
WHy do you even need an online forum if you make up both sides of the debate in your own head? FBaggins Dec 2011 #82
Dude, the thread is right above us!! kristopher Dec 2011 #88
Do you own stocks in nuclear? fascisthunter Dec 2011 #168
Put them down the freeway corridors--those are already ugly. diane in sf Dec 2011 #30
Bury them... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #95
No, HVDC does not "take to being buried" well jeff47 Dec 2011 #150
It is being used a lot. kristopher Dec 2011 #164
Not clear that mid west will have the renewable energy to spare. ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #23
Three states, South Dakota, Kansas and Texas, have enough wind power to power the entire country, MadHound Dec 2011 #25
Wipe out the dinosaur energy firms along with private health insurers, they all are obsolete diane in sf Dec 2011 #31
Hey Texans? For the good of the country, we're going to put 175,000 wind-powered generators in your cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #48
Umm, did I say anything resembling the words you put in my mouth MadHound Dec 2011 #51
You didn't say those words, no. cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #56
Gee, ever thought that the tech has gotten beyond wind farms. MadHound Dec 2011 #59
If the technology is so dated XemaSab Dec 2011 #61
I'm sorry... are you saying that you think windbelts are ready for prime time? FBaggins Dec 2011 #64
We've recently discovered... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #96
Actually, Texas has more wind generated electricity than any other state. It will double in 7 years. mbperrin Dec 2011 #103
So in your world the grid is made from superconductors? jeff47 Dec 2011 #126
HVDC and UHVDC... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #170
They've got wind, wave, and solar options in the NE. diane in sf Dec 2011 #21
The cost of such retrofits often exceed the value of the structures ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #32
Sorry, but watt for watt, nuclear is the most expensive form of power generation going. MadHound Dec 2011 #35
I am not supporting nuclear, just point out that the central plants of some sort will be with us ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #42
Solar shingles fail? MadHound Dec 2011 #44
There are cost, building code, and interconnection issues with them ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #101
You can't power NYC from the midwest jeff47 Dec 2011 #127
Hey, no fair using science ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #132
HVDC Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #145
Still can't get enough power for the 8M people in NYC from the midwest jeff47 Dec 2011 #146
Who rode the straw horse into the room? Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #172
There was a whole posse on them ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #200
You have no idea what you are talking about. NutmegYankee Dec 2011 #33
Living in a hundred and fifty plus year old house myself, MadHound Dec 2011 #37
How do you heat and what does it cost in the winter? NutmegYankee Dec 2011 #47
I Maine they are using ceramic electric heaters that use cheap off-peak electricity to heat homes jpak Dec 2011 #194
Those old houses need to be retrofitted--and should be--that's a lot of employment opportunities. diane in sf Dec 2011 #40
You have to be joking. NutmegYankee Dec 2011 #52
Here's realistic... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #65
Loans? Heat pumps? NutmegYankee Dec 2011 #70
How much are you "dumb Swamp Yankees" paying... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #86
Not that much. jeff47 Dec 2011 #152
One person's "not that much"... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #166
Efficiency Maine retrofits older homes in Maine with effective insulation and reduces energy costs jpak Dec 2011 #193
Sometimes ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #199
No - I live there all the time jpak Dec 2011 #202
Yes they can. With tidal, and small scale hydro. n/t RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #111
Small-scale hydro can't make enough power, and the tides don't always flow jeff47 Dec 2011 #128
Keep doubting. RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #160
Yes it can - offshore wind potential alone = 4 TW off the East Coast jpak Dec 2011 #190
I agree, take 150 Billion from DoD budget and invest in fusion reactor technology! snooper2 Dec 2011 #151
The AP1000s are actually pretty impressive hardware. TheWraith Dec 2011 #2
They are clearly a major step forward in nuclear generators ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #5
Are these the "pebble bed" reactors I read about not long ago? n/t cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #50
Nope FBaggins Dec 2011 #53
Please tell me they dont store spent fuel rods above the plant. nm rhett o rick Dec 2011 #4
I thought that was done in Japan due to the lack of land ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #11
I dont think the design was specifically made for Japan. I believe there are a few rhett o rick Dec 2011 #14
As I understand it placing the storage ponds on top of the reactor vessel was a local choice ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #18
I may be wrong but I believe it is intrinsic. nm rhett o rick Dec 2011 #45
It is - for that type of reactor. FBaggins Dec 2011 #58
I am going by memory but dont agree. In the design in Japan the pools were above the reactor. rhett o rick Dec 2011 #72
Both wrong. Sorry. FBaggins Dec 2011 #81
Dont be sorry. I was wrong. The spent fuel is stored below the top of the RV. nm rhett o rick Dec 2011 #85
That is the scariest Shit i've seen. stonecutter357 Dec 2011 #198
No, that's where the water sits for the passive cooling system. nt Confusious Dec 2011 #12
What could go wrong? n/t leeroysphitz Dec 2011 #13
LOL diane in sf Dec 2011 #41
Nothing... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #66
The ecomics still don't support investing in nuclear, even with an improved design. diane in sf Dec 2011 #10
Do realize that SF can never be enegry self supporting? ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #15
All cities are part of their region. My flat is a lot more energy efficent than a typical suburban diane in sf Dec 2011 #27
At a macro level, cities plunder the surrounding areas for resources ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #36
Solar panels don't require mining? XemaSab Dec 2011 #20
Solar panels don't require mining for their continuous energy production, diane in sf Dec 2011 #24
Tell that to the people in China, dying by the thousands in "cancer villages..." Systematic Chaos Dec 2011 #28
Tell that to the Indians dying from uranium mining and the people in Appalachian coal country-- diane in sf Dec 2011 #34
Well then let's bring ALL the solar panel manufacture back here. Makes perfect sense. Systematic Chaos Dec 2011 #39
Ask the people in Chernobyl and Japan how they're coping with their "clean" invisble radioactive diane in sf Dec 2011 #43
It's better to put in newer, safer reactors Turbineguy Dec 2011 #16
We will indeed need central plants for the forseeable future ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #38
It would make sense to install newer, safer reactors... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #68
What could go wrong? FiveGoodMen Dec 2011 #26
Secretary Chu Statement on AP1000 Reactor Design Certification OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #46
all that denial and the subsequent delay makes centralized solutions more 'imperative' certainot Dec 2011 #91
Or less imperative... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #99
but they've done pretty good at preventing those solutions on large scale - when it comes to certainot Dec 2011 #107
To my knowledge, this is generally true OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #114
Solar in the southwest, particuarly California has not been fast tracked ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #117
2011 Renewable Energy Priority Projects OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #118
Bureaucratic Nonsense ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #120
I believe that one level of “Bureaucratic Nonsense” has been streamlined OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #122
The metrics do not support that conclusion ProgressiveProfessor Dec 2011 #131
Really!? OKIsItJustMe Dec 2011 #137
Well, "You can be sure, if it is Westinghouse." eom Purveyor Dec 2011 #54
The AP1000 is dated, archiaic technology that the nuclear industry wants... joshcryer Dec 2011 #57
Fuel is a very small proportion of the cost of nuclear power. FBaggins Dec 2011 #60
Yes, the cleanup when they break is probably the biggest expense--the Japanese accident diane in sf Dec 2011 #69
Of course it isn't. FBaggins Dec 2011 #83
As plants retire which part of the industry suffers the most? joshcryer Dec 2011 #71
How much MOX do you think is out there? FBaggins Dec 2011 #84
We have something like 5 years to start pumping out one Gen III+ nuclear plant a year... joshcryer Dec 2011 #98
What clude go worng? Octafish Dec 2011 #74
Did you notice what the Obama "insider" is saying? Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #87
one of the benefits of all the global warming denial is demanding centralized high end solutions certainot Dec 2011 #89
It can never happen here. stonecutter357 Dec 2011 #125
I own stock in uranium miners Eliminator Dec 2011 #130
So it's all about whether you make a dollar? XemaSab Dec 2011 #147
As opposed to oil and coal? Eliminator Dec 2011 #157
FWIW, I'm fine with nuclear being a stepping stone to 100% renewables XemaSab Dec 2011 #158
Sure you do Eliminator Dec 2011 #165
nuclear would be great if it wasn't for a fucking nuclear catastrophe every 20 years or so... scentopine Dec 2011 #135
Yay! a2liberal Dec 2011 #138
If you're an engineer/scientist type... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #173
It is the one that is the most viable in the long term a2liberal Dec 2011 #175
30 year engineer here, family of engineers and scientists, power generation, power plant design scentopine Dec 2011 #181
I don't appreciate the implication that I'm an industry shill (n/t) a2liberal Dec 2011 #183
"irrational fear-mongering" "nuclear weapons fear-mongering" "ridiculous fears" scentopine Dec 2011 #184
Regardless of whether you think I'm wrong a2liberal Dec 2011 #216
Bull... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #182
Westinghouse? itsrobert Dec 2011 #142
I'm torn about the issue of nuclear power Politicub Dec 2011 #155
You're missing the big solution... Bob Wallace Dec 2011 #171
Agree completely in re: to political will being the greatest barrier Politicub Dec 2011 #174
That's a great article RoccoR5955 Dec 2011 #179
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