US DOE announces funding to build next generation nuclear plant

Published: 11-Mar-2010

US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a funding of an estimated $40 million in total, to two teams led by Westinghouse Electric and General Atomics for conceptual design and planning work for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP).

The results of this work will help the Administration determine whether to proceed with detailed efforts toward construction and demonstration of the NGNP. If successful, the NGNP Demonstration Project will demonstrate high-temperature gas-cooled reactor technology that will be capable of producing electricity as well as process heat for industrial applications and will be configured for low technical and safety risk with highly reliable operations. Final cost-shared awards are subject to the negotiation of acceptable terms and conditions.

The NGNP project is being conducted in two phases. Phase 1 comprises research and development, conceptual design and development of licensing requirements. The selections announced will support the development of conceptual designs, cost and schedule estimates for demonstration project completion and a business plan for integrating Phase 2 activities. The DOE will use information from its independent Federal advisory committee, the Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee, information and data gathered in Phase one, and other factors in determining whether the project should continue to Phase two.

Phase two would entail detailed design, license review and construction of a demonstration plant.

The Department will now negotiate the final terms and conditions for the awards with the intention of completing conceptual designs by August 31, 2010.

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