Changing attitudes towards nuclear power plants (NPPs) are continuing to have an impact on the global utilities industry and evolving energy mix. Nearly 70 reactors are currently under construction. While the debate continues, the construction, operation and decommissioning of NPPs, including processes that all have their own specific power needs, is ongoing. One key requirement at all stages of the NPP lifecycle is a reliable, efficient and flexible energy source, which modular (SMR) power achieves easily. Whether it is filling the gap during planned or unplanned maintenance, load testing a newly commissioned turbine or substation, or providing ancillary power for heat exchangers and cooling technology, or providing base-load power to support intermittent wind power and lack of sun to support solar power for example, the adoption of mobile power generation via SMRs in the short and long term can mitigate the risk of disruption to end users and would contribute to a more efficient, less costly, and climate-friendly operation. Involving energy specialists early in the process is vital to avoid delays and disruptions during later stages. However, the true demands of the project are often not realized until a full review has been conducted.
The flexibility of modular power enables generation technology to be tailored to these very specific needs, even if they exceed initial expectations. While energy demands continue to grow and more fossil fuel plants close, either as a result of changing political and environmental agendas or because they have reached a certain age, this widening generation gap needs to be filled. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, one nuclear reactor will need to be built every year to meet rapidly growing energy demands in the U.S. alone. SMRs will be playing an important role before and during the construction process, supporting feasibility studies in often remote locations, and in many other applications.
Original URL Still Working but not https: https://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/print/volume-25/issue-1/features/modular-power-in-the-nuclear-industry.html
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
