Advanced reactors - Design and construction lessons for the future - p1n4

The case for nuclear electricity is compelling. In a nutshell, it is that nuclear plants are safe, affordable, provide diversity of supply, reduce levels of imported energy, and support a growing economy without increasing air emissions. These advantages were evident to a majority of the members of the Finnish Parliament who voted 107 to 92 in favor of constructing a new nuclear power plant in that country. Now comes the hard part. Constructing a new plant is a complicated endeavor to say the least but one that nonetheless must be undertaken and completed on a tight budget and schedule. The stakes are high because Teollisuuden Voima Oy, the company that plans to own and operate the plant, will have made commitments to its customers (most of whom are also the owners of TVO) to provide electricity by a certain date. This electricity is needed to keep the customer's mills and factories operating. Once the plant is constructed, it goes without saying that the plant must be operated safely and nothing else will do. The plant must also generate electricity in a highly dependable fashion so that TVO can meet its commitments on an on-going basis and make the economics of the plant justifiable. Current owners of ABWR units and GE, as an experienced supplier, have demonstrated that the ABWR can be constructed and operated successfully and reliably. (authors)