Maximizing the Assets

摘要

Owners of power reactors now in operation can maximize their investments by taking advantage of either, or both, of two options available through the Nuclear Regulatory Commission: license renewal, which can add 20 more years to the term of an operating license; and power uprates, which can allow higher power output from the original fundamental reactor hardware. Both options require a licensee to show that its plant can continue to operate safely, involve NRC staff reviews, and include the possibility of public hearings. The license renewal process generally takes about 22 months for an uncontested proceeding and about 30 months for one with hearings. Renewal applications with hearings being held by Atomic Safety and Licensing Boards are indicated below in bold italics. There are three different kinds of power uprates-a reactor might, in theory, be given one, two, or all three-and the NRC process is more case-by-case and less subject to rigorous scheduling in advance than the license renewal process. Both options can also be influenced generically by developments in industry-backed projects from organizations such as the Nuclear Energy Institute and reactor vendors.