GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) has submitted an application to the US. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to renew the certification for its Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) technology. The original 15 year ABWR certification is set to expire in June 2012. The latest application includes a design update to reflect the current NRC requirement for an aircraft impact assessment.
“The GEH ABWR technology remains the world’s only Generation III design in operation,” said Danny Roderick, senior vice president, nuclear plant projects for GEH. “Our renewal application demonstrates our commitment to the proven ABWR product and our confidence in our long-term growth prospects as many utilities are still evaluating their future power supply needs, project costs, energy prices and other market factors.”
Four 1,350 ABWRs are operating in Japan with four more units under construction in Japan and Taiwan. “Having ABWRs that have just started construction through those in startup for plant operation gives us a wide range of experience in new plant construction to continue our legacy of over 50 years of building new units around the world without ever stopping,” Roderick said.
In 1997, GEH’s ABWR became the first Generation III reactor model to be certified for U.S. construction. More than 13 years later, GEH believes that international construction and operating experience allow’s the company to offer utilities maximum project cost and schedule certainty, combined with the latest in Generation III safety features.
The NRC must next docket, or accept, GEH’s renewal application to begin its formal review.
GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi established in June 2007. It is based in Wilmington, N.C., USA
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