ETI seeks partners to rpvide greater understanding of the cost drivers in new nuclear power plants
Energy Technologies Institute
2 min read
The Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has launched a request for proposals seeking partners to work on a new project to provide greater understanding of the cost drivers in the construction of new nuclear power plants.
- The ETI's Nuclear Cost Drivers Project will identify and analyse historic, contemporary and future nuclear power projects to identify areas of nuclear power plant design, construction and operation which can deliver cost reductions.
- The project aims to use a database to develop a cost model to compare different classes of reactor, including Pressurised Water Reactors, Sodium Cooled Fast Reactors, High Temperature Gas Cooled Reactors, Molten Salt Reactors, and Small Modular Reactors.
- The closing date for notification of intention to submit a proposal is 30 June 2017 and final submissions need to be submitted by noon on 28 July 2017.
The Nuclear Cost Drivers Project will identify and analyse historic, contemporary and future nuclear power projects to identify areas of nuclear power plant design, construction and operation to deliver potential cost reductions.
ETI analysis has demonstrated that nuclear has a potentially significant role to play in the UK's transition to a low carbon economy as long as it is cost competitive within the overall energy mix and there is a market need.
In the UK the initial challenge for the industry is to complete commissioning and construction of new nuclear projects in the next 10 years within acceptable norms of budget and schedule variation.
After delivering these first of a kind plants the subsequent challenge will be to deliver cost reductions for follow on plants which can meet the expectations of Government, investors and consumers.
Mike Middleton, Strategy, Strategy Manager for the ETI's nuclear programme said:
"New nuclear capacity deployed by 2030, 2050 and potentially later depends on a wide range of factors including ongoing cost competitiveness.
"The cost of renewables has fallen over time through research, development and deployment but this has not been the case to date for the nuclear industry.
"This project will seek to gather evidence to identify potential cost savings in the deployment of contemporary designs of large Generation III+ reactors and the potential for Generation IV advanced reactor designs to deliver a step change in reducing costs."
The request for proposals will close at noon on 28 July; the deadline for notification of intentions to submit a proposal is 30 June 2017.
The Request for Proposals can be found at http://www.eti.co.uk/category/proposals
During 2017 the ETI will be releasing technical data and reports from projects delivered across its technology programmes over the last 10 years. Next month it will release documents on its website on the analysis it has undertaken to date in nuclear projects.
