Operating Nuclear Plant License Renewal Program Status and Trends

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Young
Keyword(s):  
Renewal Process ◽  
Nuclear Plant ◽  
Positive Trend ◽  
Plant Operation ◽  
Renewal Program ◽  
Status And Trends ◽  
The Status ◽  
Main Factors ◽  
License Renewal ◽  
The U.S

As of February 2011, the NRC has renewed the operating licenses for 62 nuclear units, which will allow for up to 60 years of safe nuclear plant operation. In addition, the NRC has license renewal applications under review for 20 units and nuclear plant owners of more than 17 units have announced plans to submit license renewal applications over the next few years. This brings the total of renewed licenses and announced plans for license renewal to over 95% of the 104 currently operating nuclear units in the U.S. This paper presents the status of the U.S. license renewal process, the positive trend in regulatory stability through 2007, and the negative trend in regulatory stability after 2007. From 2000 through 2007, the NRC was able to complete the license renewal review and issue renewed licenses in 30 months or less for 100% of the license renewal applicants. In fact, approximately 77% of the reviews were completed in 22 months or less. Since 2007, NRC reviews have become much less predictable, with 21% of the reviews exceeding 30 months and only 7% being completed in 22 months or less. In fact, some reviews currently underway have exceeded 60 months and the reviews remain incomplete. One of the main factors leading to the loss of timely regulatory reviews has been the NRC adjudicatory process for license renewal, although the safety and environmental review processes have also become less timely since 2007. The factors that contributed to the positive and the negative trends are presented.

Nuclear Plant License Renewal Status in the U.S.

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Young
Keyword(s):  
Renewal Process ◽  
Nuclear Plant ◽  
Safe Operation ◽  
Plant Operation ◽  
Nuclear Plants ◽  
The Status ◽  
License Renewal ◽  
The U.S

As of January 2012, the NRC has renewed the operating licenses for 71 nuclear units, which will allow for up to 60 years of safe operation. In addition, the NRC has license renewal applications under review for 15 units and nuclear plant owners of more than 14 units have announced plans to submit applications over the next six years [1]. This brings the total of renewed licenses and announced plans for license renewal to over 96% of the 104 currently operating nuclear units in the U.S. This paper presents the status of the U.S. license renewal process and the U.S. efforts associated with the option of seeking a second license renewal for up to 80 years of safe nuclear plant operation. Currently there are 9 operating nuclear plants that are eligible to seek a second license renewal. It is likely that applications for a second renewal will be submitted to the NRC within the next few years. The factors that contributed to the positive and the negative trends for both the first license renewals for 60 years and the second renewals for 80 years of safe operation are presented and discussed.

License Renewal: Status of Long Term Operation in the U.S.

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Young
Keyword(s):  
Public Opinion ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Renewal Process ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Nuclear Plant ◽  
Plant Operation ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
License Renewal ◽  
The U.S

As of February 2008, the NRC has approved renewal of the operating licenses for 48 nuclear units and has applications under review for 15 more units. In addition, nuclear plant owners for at least 25 more units have announced plans to submit license renewal applications over the next few years. This brings the total of renewed licenses and announced plans for license renewal to over 80% of the 104 currently operating nuclear units in the U.S. This paper presents some of the factors that have made the U.S. license renewal process so successful. These factors include (1) the successful regulatory process and on-going continuous improvement of that process, (2) long-term safe plant operation trends, (3) stable low-cost generation of electricity, (4) high levels of plant reliability, and (5) improving public opinion trends.

U.S. License Renewal and Long Term Operation in the 2010’s

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Young
Keyword(s):  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Nuclear Plant ◽  
Plant Operation ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
License Renewal ◽  
The U.S

As of February 2010, the NRC has renewed the operating licenses for 59 nuclear units, which will allow for up to 60 years of safe nuclear plant operation. In addition, the NRC has license renewal applications under review for 19 units and nuclear plant owners of more than 18 units have announced plans to submit license renewal applications over the next few years. This brings the total of renewed licenses and announced plans for license renewal to over 90% of the 104 currently operating nuclear units in the U.S. This paper presents some of the factors that have made the U.S. license renewal process so successful and how these same factors will be important for the second round of license renewal, which is expected to begin in the mid-2010’s. These long term operation factors include (1) the successful regulatory process and on-going continuous improvement of that process, (2) long-term safe plant operation, (3) stable low-cost generation of electricity, (4) high levels of sustained plant reliability, and (5) strong public opinion favorable to nuclear power plants.

License Renewal and Subsequent License Renewal in the U.S.

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Young
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Safe Operation ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Nuclear Plants ◽  
The Status ◽  
License Renewal ◽  
The U.S ◽  
Operating Plant

As of February 2014, the NRC has renewed the operating licenses for 73 nuclear units, allowing for up to 60 years of safe operation. In addition, the NRC has license renewal applications under review for 18 units and 9 additional units have announced plans to submit applications over the next few years [1]. This brings the total of renewed licenses and plans for renewal to 100% of the operating nuclear units in the U.S. By the end of 2014, there will be 38 nuclear plants that will have operated for more than 40 years and will be eligible to seek a subsequent license renewal (or almost 40% of the nuclear units expected to be operating at the end of 2014). In 2013, nuclear plant owners of 5 units shutdown operation or announced plans to shutdown by the end of 2014. However, most of the remaining operating plant owners are keeping the option open for long term operation beyond 60 years. NRC and the U.S. nuclear industry have made significant progress in preparing the way for subsequent license renewal applications. This paper presents the status of the U.S. license renewal process and issues being addressed for possible applications for subsequent renewals for up to 80 years of operation.

Long Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants: Status in the U.S.

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Young
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ◽  
Safe Operation ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
The Status ◽  
Regulatory Commission ◽  
License Renewal ◽  
The U.S

As of January 2013, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has renewed the operating licenses of 73 nuclear units out of a total of 104 licensed units, allowing for up to 60 years of safe operation. In addition, the NRC has license renewal applications under review for 15 units and more than 13 additional units have announced plans to submit applications over the next few years [1]. This brings the total of renewed licenses and plans for renewal to over 97% of the 104 operating nuclear units in the U.S. This paper presents the status of the U.S. license renewal process and issues being raised for possible applications for subsequent renewals for up to 80 years of operation. By the end of 2013 there will be 26 nuclear plants in the U.S. (or 25% of the 104 units) that will be eligible to seek a second license renewal and by the end of 2016 this number will increase to about 50% of the 104 licensed units. Although some nuclear plant owners have announced plans to shutdown before reaching 60 years, the majority are keeping the option open for long term operation beyond 60 years. The factors that impact decisions for both the first license renewals and subsequent renewals for 80 years of safe operation are presented and discussed in this paper.

ANO-2 Experiences Using Structural Tools During License Renewal Application

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Ahrabli
Keyword(s):  
Renewal Process ◽  
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Considerable Time ◽  
Renewal Program ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
Regulatory Commission ◽  
Effects Of Aging ◽  
License Renewal

Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 2 (ANO-2) submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to extend its operating license for an additional 20 years on October 15, 2003. NRC regulations governing the license renewal process require the preparation of an Integrated Plant Assessment (IPA) to demonstrate that the effects of aging on systems, structures and components (SSCs) at ANO-2 are adequately managed. ANO participated in the B&W (now AREVA) Owners Group (BWOG) Generic License Renewal Program (GLRP) in developing the BWOG “Aging Effects for Structures and Structural Components”, commonly referred to as “Structural Tools”. The Structural Tools is a generic evaluation based on material and environments that assist the user in performing an evaluation of aging effects. Using the Tools, considerable time was saved in preparing Aging Management Review Reports (AMRR) since the reviewer did not have to independently research potential causes of aging effects for the materials and environments being reviewed. This paper summarizes the ANO-2 experiences in preparing AMRRs utilizing the Structural Tools.

ANO-1 Experiences Using Structural Tools During License Renewal Application

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reza Ahrabli
Keyword(s):  
Renewal Process ◽  
Nuclear Regulatory Commission ◽  
Structural Components ◽  
Aging Effects ◽  
Considerable Time ◽  
Renewal Program ◽  
Review Reports ◽  
Regulatory Commission ◽  
Effects Of Aging ◽  
License Renewal

Arkansas Nuclear One, Unit 1 (ANO-1) submitted an application to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to extend its operating license for an additional 20 years on January 31, 2000. NRC regulations governing the license renewal process require the preparation of an Integrated Plant Assessment (IPA) to demonstrate that the effects of aging on systems, structures and components (SSCs) at ANO-1 are adequately managed. ANO participated in the B&W (now Framatome) Owners Group (BWOG) Generic License Renewal Program (GLRP) in developing the B&WOG “Aging Effects for Structures and Structural Components”, commonly referred to the “Structural Tools”. The Structural Tools (Mechanical and Electrical Tools are also available) is a generic evaluation based on material and environments that assist the user in performing an evaluation of aging effects. Using the Tools, considerable time was saved in preparing Aging Management Review Reports (AMRR) since the reviewer did not have to independently research potential causes of aging effects for the materials and environments being reviewed. This paper summarizes the ANO-1 experiences in preparing AMRRs utilizing the Structural Tools.

Subsequent License Renewal in the U.S.

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Young ◽  
Jason Remer
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York Times ◽  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
News Article ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Nuclear Plants ◽  
The Status ◽  
License Renewal ◽  
The U.S

As of January 2015, the NRC has renewed the operating licenses for 75 nuclear units, allowing for up to 60 years of safe operation. In addition, the NRC has license renewal applications under review for 19 units and 5 additional units have announced plans to submit applications over the next few years. This brings the total of renewed licenses and plans for renewal to almost 100% of the operating nuclear units in the U.S. At the end of 2014 there were 38 nuclear plants that had operated for more than 40 years and are eligible to seek a second license renewal (or 38% of the operating units). [1] Although some nuclear plant owners have shutdown operation recently and others have announced plans to shutdown before reaching 60 years, the majority are keeping the option open for long term operation beyond 60 years. NRC and the U.S. nuclear industry have made significant progress in preparing the way for second license renewal applications. For example, in October 2014, 7 nuclear units were identified as the leading candidates for subsequent license renewal in a New York Times news article. This paper presents the status of the issues being addressed for possible applications for second license renewals for up to 80 years of operation.

License Renewal Experience in the U.S.: Continue to Seek Long Term Operation or Shutdown?

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Garry G. Young
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Industry ◽  
Significant Progress ◽  
Safe Operation ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Regulatory Guidance ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Status ◽  
License Renewal ◽  
The U.S

As of January 2016, there were 99 operating nuclear units in the U.S. and the NRC had renewed the operating licenses for 81 of those nuclear units allowing for up to 60 years of safe operation (83 renewed licenses had been issued, but 2 of those units are now shutdown). In addition, the NRC has license renewal applications under review for 11 more units and 5 units have announced plans to submit applications in the next few years. This brings the total of renewed licenses and plans for renewal to almost 100% of the 99 operating units in the U.S. At the end of 2015, there were about 40 nuclear units that had operated for more than 40 years and most of those units are eligible to seek a second license renewal for up to 80 years of operation. [1] Unfortunately, in the past few years, 5 nuclear units have been prematurely shutdown and 3 additional units with licenses to operate for 60 years are scheduled to be prematurely shutdown between 2016 and 2019 for economic reasons. However, the majority of the nuclear plant owners are keeping the option open for long term operation beyond 60 years. NRC and the U.S. nuclear industry have made significant progress in preparing the way for a second round of license renewal applications. For example, the NRC published draft regulatory guidance on the second (or subsequent) license renewal process in December 2015. This paper presents the status of the efforts underway for possible applications for second license renewals for up to 80 years of operation and the issues that may result in additional premature plant shutdowns in the U.S.

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