All articles by thonney
thonney
Ukraine agrees to construct Westinghouse AP1000 reactors
US-based Westinghouse Electric Company and Ukrainian nuclear utility Energoatom on 31 August signed an exclusive agreement to bring Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to multiple sites in Ukraine. The signing took place at the Department of Energy (DOE) Headquarters in Washington, DC, and was witnessed by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and the Minister of Energy of Ukraine German Galushchenko.
Straight to voicemail
Jeremy Gordon says China’s slow response to questions about fuel leakage at Taishan raise concerns over its commitment to open information – and that should be a concern for the rest of the industry.
US NNSA awards NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes funds for Molybdenum-99
US-based NorthStar Medical Radioisotopes announced on 30 August that it has been awarded $37 million in cooperative agreement funds with the US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) as part of an industry outreach initiative to establish reliable domestic molybdenum-99 (Mo-99) production without the use of highly enriched uranium (HEU). NorthStar will use funds from the award to complete its neutron capture technology programme and continue development and expansion of its accelerator production programme. Both projects support non-uranium based, environmentally friendly production of Mo-99.
NuScale Power Completes Second Energy Exploration (E2) Centre
NuScale Power on 31 August announced the opening of the second-of-three planned NuScale Energy Exploration (E2) Centres in collaboration with the University of Idaho at the Centre for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES), located in Idaho Falls. The E2 Centre at CAES, to be known as the SMR Simulator Laboratory, will assist the research of CAES entities: Idaho National Laboratory, Boise State University, Idaho State University, and University of Idaho, and allow users to assume the role of control room operator to learn about the innovative features and functionality unique to NuScale’s SMR technology.
NuScale Power Selects Rock Creek Innovations for the Highly Integrated Protection System
US-based NuScale Power announced on 30 August that it had selected Rock Creek Innovations (RCI) to perform the final design work for its Highly Integrated Protection System (HIPS) platform. The HIPS platform is a protection system architecture jointly developed by Rock Creek Innovations and NuScale Power. The HIPS platform is an integral part of NuScale’s instrumentation and control system, which provides a robust safety platform to monitor the NuScale Power Module (NPM) and protects NuScale Power plants from potential cybersecurity attacks. The HIPS platform is a modular, scalable architecture that combines the best aspects of analog and digital technologies, and results in a simple robust protection system.
US NNSA launches RadSecure radiological security initiative
The US Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) said on 31 August it had launched a major radiological security project to enhance US radiological security. The RadSecure 100 Initiative focuses on removing radioactive material from facilities where feasible and improving security at the remaining facilities located in 100 metropolitan areas throughout the United States. It includes a significant partnership with local law enforcement.
Doosan Heavy to support X-energy’s HTGR development
Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction said on 27 August it had won a contract with US X-energy to participate in the development of a high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) that uses helium gas as a coolant instead of water. Under an engineering service agreement, Doosan Heavy said it would support designing a small modular reactor (SMR) by performing a study for optimum design and conducting mock-up tests for critical manufacturing processes.
ENSREG inspection started at the Belarusian NPP
Experts from the European Nuclear Safety Regulatory Group (ENSREG) are visiting the Belarus NPP from 31 August to 2 September as part of the second phase of the peer review of the national action plan following the plant’s stress tests. The team includes 15 experts from Austria, Germany, Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Lithuania, Greece and Finland. The group will be headed by Petteri Tiippana, Director General of the Centre for Nuclear and Radiation Safety of Finland (STUK),” the press service said.
Steam generators for Akkuyu 2 being delivered to construction site
Russia’s Atommash, the Volgodonsk branch of AEM-Technologies (part of Rosatom’s mechanical engineering division Atomenergomash), said on 1 September that it had begun shipping steam generators for unit 2 of the Akkuyu NPP under construction in Turkey. Four steam generators, each weighing 355 tons, will travel 3000 km to the construction site. “The first of these four steam generators was built eight months ahead of the original schedule. The timing of key production operations in their manufacture was halved,” said Igor Kotov, General Director of AEM-Technologies. “This was facilitated by the powerful and intensive development of the company that is now taking place. We have significantly strengthened the production base, introduced digital technologies, continue to improve efficiency and develop personnel.”
Nuclear technology company Newcleo acquires Hydromine
UK-based nuclear technology company Newcleo on 31 August announced its incorporation with the closing of a $118 million initial capital raising and the acquisition of Hydromine Nuclear Energy. Newcleo said its disruptive approach is based on the innovative application of well-developed technologies, including, (1) Lead Fast Reactors (LFRs), which utilise lead as a coolant; (2) Accelerator Driven Systems (ADSs), based on coupling a sub-critical reactor with a particle accelerator; and (3) the use of natural thorium fuel.