US partnerships boost development of hydrogen economy

Published: Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:13:59 GMT

Argonne National Laboratory has teamed up with Constellation Energy Corp to develop carbon-free power generation technologies, including a project focusing on hydrogen production from nuclear power plants, while Bloom Energy and Excel Energy have announced plans for hydrogen production at a nuclear plant in Minnesota. Meanwhile, the US Department of Energy has opened applications for a USD7 billion programme to create regional clean hydrogen hubs.

Westinghouse developing Polish AP1000 supply chain

Published: Fri, 23 Sep 2022 13:04:40 GMT

Westinghouse Electric Company has signed Memoranda of Understanding with 22 companies in Poland that allow for cooperation on the potential construction of AP1000 reactors in the country as well as other potential projects in Central Europe.

Base plate for BREST reactor delivered to site

Published: Fri, 23 Sep 2022 13:54:10 GMT

The steel base plate for the BREST-OD-300 lead-cooled fast reactor has been delivered to the construction site at the Siberian Chemical Combine's Seversk facility in Russia's Tomsk Region. The circular component was delivered in two halves, which will be assembled into a single structure before installation.

Third Barakah unit starts up

Published: Thu, 22 Sep 2022 15:23:30 GMT

The 1400 MWe unit is now producing heat from nuclear fission, and will be connected to the UAE's electricity grid in the coming weeks, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation said. Two units at the site, in the Al Dhafra Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, are already in commercial operation.
 

DOE funds communities to learn about used fuel storage

Published: Thu, 22 Sep 2022 14:36:45 GMT

The US Department of Energy has invited interested communities to apply for a share of USD16 million for resources to help them learn more about consent-based siting of used nuclear fuel management and interim storage. Meanwhile, the State of Nevada is seeking a resumption of the licensing procedures for the Yucca Mountain repository - with the aim of securing a permanent end to the project.

Akkuyu 2’s reactor vessel installed

Published: Thu, 22 Sep 2022 14:06:14 GMT

The second unit at Turkey's Akkuyu nuclear power plant has had the installation of its reactor pressure vessel completed.

Grossi holds Zaporizhzhia safety zone talks with Ukraine and Russia

Published: Thu, 22 Sep 2022 11:11:18 GMT

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said that his separate talks with the foreign ministers of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, and of Russia, Sergei Lavrov, indicate there is a "solid basis" for believing that a safety and security zone around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant can be established.

Jacobs to support refurb of UK nuclear research facilities

Published: Thu, 22 Sep 2022 11:01:54 GMT

Engineering group Jacobs has been selected as full lifecycle delivery partner to support infrastructure renewal projects at various facilities run by the UK's government-owned, but operationally-independent, National Nuclear Laboratory.

UNECE roadmap to net-zero calls for greater use of nuclear energy

Published: Tue, 20 Sep 2022 14:21:28 GMT

Nuclear energy plays a significant role in scenarios which achieve carbon neutrality in North America, Europe and Central Asia, according to a new report from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. If advanced reactors are successfully deployed to complement large scale nuclear reactors and there is progress in introducing low-carbon hydrogen infrastructure, then the role for nuclear energy is even greater.

3D-printed fuel component installed at Swedish reactor

Published: Wed, 21 Sep 2022 14:27:52 GMT

Framatome has completed the installation of the first 3D-printed, stainless steel fuel component at Vattenfall's Forsmark nuclear power plant in Sweden. In collaboration with German pump and valve manufacturer KSB, the Atrium 11 upper tie plate grids were designed, manufactured, and installed in Forsmark unit 3 for a multi-year irradiation programme.