A realistic approach to nuclear power for tomorrow

The future global role of nuclear power is determined by a puzzling set of considerations. Like any other substantial contributor to the world's energy needs, nuclear power must be generated at an acceptable cost and with a negligible effect on the environment. Furthermore, it must achieve and maintain a socially reasonable level of public acceptance, which in turn is not necessarily governed by rational assessments of the true safety and environmental impact of nuclear power plants. ABB's approach to this situation can be best characterized as a open-quotes cautious evolutionclose quotes-step by step improvements rather dramatic design changes. For the next decade(s), ABB will therefore largely base its offerings to the market on open-quotes evolutionclose quotesof its successful versions of the two reactor types that represent the overwhelming portion of installed generating capacity world-wide, namely the BWR and PWR. In addition to these, and owing to the extensive lead time that relate to the development, verification and licensing of distinctly new reactor concepts, ABB continues to develop designs of the open-quotes passiveclose quotes type in preparation for future generations. Accordingly, the paper will elaborate on ABB's current reactor designs the BWR 90 and the System 80*TM PWR plants. Both can be designed, licensed and constructed in accordance with any safety regulations now in force or envisaged in the Western world. Emphasis has been, and will be, placed on features that aim at ensuring predictability with regard to licensing and, hence, construction time and corresponding electricity generation costs. An overview of the status of ABB's open-quotes passiveclose quotes PIUS system will also be presented