Regulating New Nuclear PowerRegulating New Nuclear Power Stations in the UK: Current Approach, Future Perspectives & N l R h N dNuclear Research Needs

Dr. Mike RedmondInspector – Nuclear Safety Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)

RSC 1st Ch i t i E C fRSC 1st Chemistry in Energy Conference20th – 22nd July 2015, Edinburgh, UK

OverviewOverview• New nuclear build – UK context;• ONR;

– Who are we? What do we do? How do we do it?Who are we? What do we do? How do we do it?• Regulating new nuclear power stations:

Licensing;– Licensing;– Generic Design Assessment (GDA);

R h & d l t d• Research & development needs;• Future perspectives.

Disclaimer!

• I am not here to promote the nuclear industry or nuclear power;

• UK Government (DECC), Office for Nuclear ( ),Development (OND), are facilitating new nuclear investment in the UK;;

• I am a regulator acting in the public interest –neutralneutral.

UK New Nuclear BuildThe current position:

N clear po er generated in UK• Nuclear power generated in UK since 1956;

• Currently 16 power reactors• Currently 16 power reactors generating ~18% of UK’s electricity. 10 GWe capacity;y p y;

• Ageing fleet of predominately gas cooled reactors (1 PWR);

• Life extensions are being planned for the majority of the Advanced Gas Cooled Reactors (AGRs);

UK New Nuclear Build

Plant TypePresent capacity First power Expected shutdownPlant Type capacity

(MWe net)First power Expected shutdown

Wylfa 1 Magnox 490 1971 Dec 2015

Dungeness B 1&2 AGR 2 x 520 1983 & 1985 2028

Hartlepool 1&2 AGR 595, 585 1983 & 1984 2024

Heysham I 1&2 AGR 580, 575 1983 & 1984 2019

Heysham II 1&2 AGR 2 x 610 1988 2023

Hinkley Point B 1&2 AGR 475, 470 1976 2023

Hunterston B 1&2 AGR 475, 485 1976 & 1977 2023

Torness 1&2 AGR 590, 595 1988 & 1989 2023

Sizewell B PWR 1198 1995 2035

Total: 16 units 9373 MWe

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-T-Z/United-Kingdom/

UK New Nuclear Build• Driver for low carbon economy. Government estimates

nuclear power saves 5 - 12% of UK’s CO2 emissions;nuclear power saves 5 12% of UK s CO2 emissions; • 2008 Government White Paper on Nuclear Power:

– Legislated UK will cut CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050;Legislated UK will cut CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050;– In the public interest for new nuclear power stations to

play a role in UK’s future energy mix;play a role in UK s future energy mix;– Government to take active steps to facilitate

construction of new nuclear power stations;p ;– Energy companies to fund, develop & build incl. full

share of decommissioning & radwaste costs.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/+/http:/www.berr.gov.uk/fil/fil 43006 dfes/file43006.pdf

UK New Nuclear Build

• 3 projects currently3 projects currently being taken forward by NNB GenCo, NuGen &NNB GenCo, NuGen & Horizon Nuclear Power:Power:– Hinkley Point C, twin

unit UK EPR™ (PWR);( );– Moorside, AP1000®

(PWR);– Wylfa & Oldbury, UK

ABWR (BWR)

UK New Nuclear Build• Government – 60GWe new capacity required by 2025;• Industry – planned 16GWe new nuclear by 2030.y p y

Proponent Site/Unit Locality Type Capacity (MWe gross)

Construction start Start-up

EDF Energyn Hinkley Point C-1 Somerset EPR 1670 2023

Hinkley Point C-2 EPR 1670 2024

EDF Energyn Sizewell C-1 Suffolk EPR? 1670? ?

Sizewell C-2 EPR? 1670? ?

Wylfa NewyddHorizon Wylfa Newydd 1 Wales ABWR 1380 2025

Horizon Wylfa Newydd 2 Wales ABWR 1380 2025

Horizon Oldbury B-1 Gloucestershire ABWR 1380 late 2020s

Horizon Oldbury B-2 Gloucestershire ABWR 1380 late 2020s

NuGeneration Moorside 1 Cumbria AP1000 1135 2024

NuGeneration Moorside 2 AP1000 1135 ?

NuGeneration Moorside 3 AP1000 1135 ?

Total planned & proposed 11 units 15,600 MWe

CNNC & CGN Bradwell Hualong One 1150

GE Hitachi Sellafield Cumbria 2 x PRISM 2 x 311

Candu Energy Sellafield Cumbria 2 x Candu EC6 2 x 740

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-T-Z/United-Kingdom/

ONR – who are we what do weONR who are we, what do we do?

ONRONR• Formerly Nuclear Installation Inspectorate (NII) & part of

H lth & S f t E ti (HSE)Health & Safety Executive (HSE);• ONR is now a Public Corporation – established under

the Energy Act 2013;the Energy Act 2013;• Act on behalf of the public to independently regulate the

UK nuclear industry ONR’s purposes:UK nuclear industry. ONR s purposes:– Nuclear safety;– Conventional health & safety on GB nuclear sites;y ;– Nuclear security;– Nuclear safeguards;– Transport of radioactive materials.

ONR• Independently regulate

37 GB nuclear sites:37 GB nuclear sites:– Power reactors;– Non-power producing

nuclear facilities;– Decommissioning sites;

Defense facilities;– Defense facilities;– New nuclear build.

• ~ 480 staff ~ 60% 480 staff. 60% inspectors:

– Liverpool (majority);– Cheltenham;– London.

The Law (In Brief)( )• The Energy Act 2013 – creates ONR & responsibility to enforce ‘relevant statutory provisions’ y y(RSPs):

– Sections 1; 3-6; 22 & 24A of Nuclear Installations Act 1965 (NIA ‘65);1965 (NIA 65);

– NISR 2003;– CDG 2009 – radioactive material for civil purposes;p p ;

• Nuclear Site Licence (NSL) – granted by ONR;• GB nuclear site – installing and/or operating a nuclear

reactor requires a NSL;• NSL granted under NIA ‘65 – requires ONR to attach

conditions standard set of 36;conditions – standard set of 36;• Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW) & RSPs -

ALARPALARP

Delivering RegulationDelivering Regulation• UK operates a goal-setting regime;

ONR t t l t t ti D t ib• ONR sets out regulatory expectations. Do not prescribe how to meet legal obligations – licensee determines how to do so;how to do so;

• Encourages continuous improvement;• Legal responsibility rests with the licensee;• Legal responsibility rests with the licensee;• Evidence based judgments:

– Assessment;Assessment;– Permissioning (regulatory control derived from NIA ‘65);– Inspection;– Enforcement;

• Does the licensee understand the hazards? Are ?adequate measures in place to control them?

Generic Design AssessmentGeneric Design Assessment (GDA) – what is it?( )

GDA – Background & Scope g p• ONR licence the organisation not the reactor design;

GDA t t f th i f t• GDA separates assessment of the generic safety case from other licensing activities;

• Why?• Why?– Sizewell ‘B’ last nuclear reactor constructed in UK;– Lots of lessons learnt;Lots of lessons learnt;– Pre-licensing activities undertaken –not well documented;– Un-resolved technical issues;– Significant regulatory uncertainty when licence granted;

D i d f t i t– Design and safety case on-going – many aspects were re-assessed through construction & commissioning.

GDA – Background & Scopeg p• 2006 Government Energy Review;

E Mi i t t d HSE t h lth & f t• Energy Minister requested HSE report on health & safety risks from new nuclear power stations;

• HSE’s response: proposed assessment of new reactor• HSE s response: proposed assessment of new reactor designs in advance of site specifics – “pre-licensing” –known as GDA;known as GDA;– Joint process between Environment Agency (discharges) &

ONR;– Does not consider build location;– Takes place prior to financial investment decision;

Early engagement with designer (‘Requesting Party’) Identify &– Early engagement with designer ( Requesting Party ). Identify & resolve any potential key issues & design changes required to meet UK legislative requirements long before build.

GDA – The ProcessGDA The Process

Step 1 –Preparation

Step 2 –Fundamentaloverview

Step 3 –Overall designsafety review

Step 4 –Detailed designassessment

scrutiny

t i t

? 3-6 mths 6-12 mths 24 mths

uncertainty

? 3 6 mths 6 12 mths 24 mths

GDA - OutcomesGDA - OutcomesIrresolvable No Resolvable

Notcontent ContentContent

enough?

Issues IssuesIssues?

content enough?

ResolutionPlans

Resolveissues

DACNo DAC

Plans issues

+ Assessment

Findings

iDAC + GDA Issues

GDA – The DACGDA The DAC

GDA 1 - ProgressGDA 1 Progressn al ew t

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AECL ACR-1000iDAC

Iss

res

Iss

res

GE-Hitachi ESBWR

Westinghouse AP1000®

iDAC

DAC

EDF and AREVA UK EPR™ DAC

July2007

Dec2007

June2008

Nov2009

Dec2011

Dec2012

Oct2014

mid2016

GDA 2 - ProgressGDA 2 Progressn al ew t

ep 1

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Hitachi-GE UK ABWR

Jan2013

Oct2013

Sept2014

Sept2015

end2017

Project Specific Progressj p g• NNB GenCo:

Nov 2012 site licence granted for– Nov. 2012 - site licence granted for twin unit HPC;

– Design based on GDA safety case forUK EPR™;

– Licensee resolving GDA assessment findings 732; 69 reactor chemistryfindings. 732; 69 reactor chemistry.

• Horizon Nuclear Power:– NSL application & potential grantNSL application & potential grant

running in parallel with GDA of UK ABWR. ONR providing advice.

N G• NuGen:– ONR’s pre-application intervention

strategy produced & published.strategy produced & published. http://www.onr.org.uk/civil-nuclear-reactors/nugen-pre-application-intervention-strategy.pdf

Hitachi-GE’s UK ABWR

Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)• Boiling Water Reactor (BWR)– 1350 MWe;– 60 year design life;60 year design life;– Internal recirculation pumps (no

recirculation pipework);– Based on Kashiwazaki-Kariwa

6/7 ABWRs (commercial operation in 1996/97).p )

Hitachi-GE’s UK ABWR• How has reactor chemistry contributed towards ONR’s

assessment of the safety of the design?y g– “Source terms” (normal operations) – generation &

transport of radioactivity – RI-ABWR-0001;– ALARP operating chemistry choice – RO-ABWR-

0022;– Material choices – RO-ABWR-0035;– Radiolytic gas generation and control;– Suppression pool pH control;– Accident analysis – source terms.

http://www.onr.org.uk/new-reactors/uk-abwr/ri-res-plan.htmhttp://www.onr.org.uk/new-reactors/uk-abwr/ro-res-plan.htm

Research & Development Needs

But First….. Future Perspectives• Sizewell ‘C’:

– Current proposals twin unit UK EPR™;– Linked to HPC and financial investmentLinked to HPC and financial investment

decision.• Chinese national energy company has

expressed interest in constructing &expressed interest in constructing & operating an indigenous reactor design;

• Small Modular Reactors (SMRs):G t h k d i d t f th i i– Government has asked industry for their view on the role of SMRs in the future energy mix;

– Feasibility study has been produced;htt // l k/ di /1627/ f ibilit t dhttp://www.nnl.co.uk/media/1627/smr-feasibility-study-december-2014.pdf• Pu disposition:

G t f d ti i– Government preferred option is re-use as MOX;

– Alternative re-use option ‘burning’ in a reactor (including SMRs) PRISM fast reactor and(including SMRs). PRISM fast reactor and Enhanced CANDU 6 under consideration.

Research Needs• Much wider than supporting new nuclear

build alone:– Life-extension of AGR fleet: plant componentLife extension of AGR fleet: plant, component

and material behaviour & impact on safety;– Waste management;– Decommissioning;Decommissioning;– Geological disposal;– Nuclear fusion.

• Involves many stakeholders from industry• Involves many stakeholders from industry, academia, regulators, Government etc.

• Nuclear Innovation & Research Advisory yBoard (NIRAB).– Holistic approach and coordination of nuclear

R&D;– Numerous stakeholders.

• Nuclear Innovation & Research Office (NIRO)(NIRO)– Develop & undertake NIRAB’s work.

Research NeedsKey themes• Manufacture & construction:

Components & materials advanced fabrication– Components & materials – advanced fabrication technologies;

– Construction & installation – advanced techniques.Front end fuel cycle:• Front end fuel cycle:– Fuel fabrication;– Reactor design;– Reactor operations;– Materials behaviour;

• Back end fuel cycle:Back end fuel cycle:– Spent fuel storage;– Fuel recycling;

Nuclear materials management;– Nuclear materials management;– Waste management;– Decommissioning.

Research NeedsKey themes (continued)• Geological disposal:

Characterisation of candidate sites;– Characterisation of candidate sites;– Post-closure performance assessments;– Safety cases: transport, operational & post-closure.

F i• Fusion:– Next generation structural materials;– High temperature materials;g p ;– Demonstration of power production.

Research Needs – ONR’s ApproachResearch Needs ONR s Approach• ONR has a statutory duty to conduct research and

encourage dutyholders to do so;encourage dutyholders to do so;• Current approach being revised and a new strategy

being developed;At t• At present:– Produce a document called Nuclear Research Needs (NRN);– ONR’s view on what research needs to be done to support safe pp

operations;– Provides a position for ONR to judge adequacy of dutyholders’

research programmes;

• Chemistry specific examples from the 2013 NRN:– PWR chemistry during commissioning & hot functional testing;PWR chemistry during commissioning & hot functional testing;– Pyrophoric materials i.e. uranium hydride;– Hydrogen generation & control;

http://www.onr.org.uk/research/nuclear-research.htm

Conclusions

• Nuclear will form an increased part of the energy mix to p gyenable Government to meet legislated CO2 emissions targets;

• Regulatory processes are in place to assess theRegulatory processes are in place to assess the suitability of new reactor designs for the UK and licence new potential operating organisations;Chemistry assessment is playing a vital role in assessing• Chemistry assessment is playing a vital role in assessing the adequacy of generic and site specific safety cases for new reactor designs;

• Implementing new nuclear build & dealing with the existing challenges faced by the nuclear industry will require extensive, coordinated, R&D.q , ,

Th k fThank you for your attentionattention

kwww.onr.org.uk