New build in the new millennium

With the projected demand for energy increasing year by year there is now a growing interest in the potential for new nuclear stations. However, there are a number of issues and obstacles that need to be overcome before embarking on a major programme of new nuclear plant construction. The details vary according to the specific political and economic circumstances, but both the UK and US have undertaken comprehensive energy reviews, which have offered potential opportunities for a successful nuclear industry in the future. Against this backdrop, BNFL has grown and made strategic moves so that the Company has rights to a wide portfolio of advanced reactor types aimed at different time scales and markets. The authors review the AP 1000, PBMR and IRIS designs, and also considers the longer term potential of fast reactors, looking at how each meets different combinations of customer needs. The nuclear industry must retain and grow the skill base to respond to this demand, and government action is required to underpin training and education in nuclear technology. Collaborative international development programmes will be essential to deliver environmentally and economically competitive systems for the future