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Nuclear Power PlantsEmission-Free Stability
in a Volatile MarketLSU Energy Conference
October 21-22, 2004
Adrian Heymer, NEI, 202-739-8094, [email protected]
NEI
NuclearGeneration Government
Affairs
NEICorporateServices
ExternalRelations Communications
[RegulatoryYucca MtnFuelROP, …]
[Policy,Environmental
IT, HR, Legal, Exec]
[Congress & Administration]
[MemberRelations,State,Local, ..]
[Media& PR]
Nuclear Generation
• Status of industry– Historical operating performance
• Benefits• New plants
Nuclear Power PlantsCurrent Status
• 103 Operating Units– One under major refurbishment– Average capacity factor ~ 90% over last 4 years
• 20% of US electricity generation• 70% of US emission-free generation
– Wind 1%; Solar 0.1%• Eliminates ~700 million tons/year of
Greenhouse gases
Air Quality CO2 Emissions Eliminated
Source EIA
9.5 0.512.1
234
694
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Nuclear Hydro Geothermal Wind Solar
Mill
ion
Shor
t Ton
s
Decade of Safety & Economic Improvement
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 '02 '0365
70
75
80
85
90
95
Relative CostRisk (CDF) Capacity Factor
YearBased on UDI, DOE & NUS Data plus info. from ERIN Eng & EPRI
Relative Cost
Relative Risk
CapacityFactor
95.8%
92.2%
88.7%
82.1%
96.5%93.6%
90.1%
85.8%
97.1%
92.9%89.9%
82.6%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1st Q uartile 2nd Q uartile 3rd Q uartile 4th Q uartile
MD
C N
et C
apac
ity F
acto
r
1999-2001 2000-2002 2001-2003Source: UDI/NRC - Updated 05/04
U.S. Nuclear Industry Capacity Factors by Quartile
(3-year rolling average for 103 units)
Number of Unusual Events Reported to NRC (1989-2003)
Source: SCIENTECH - Updated 06/04
Note: A Notification of Unusual Event for power and non-power reactor licensees is a condition involving potential degradation of the level of plant safety that does not represent an immediate threat to public health and safety.
151170
135
10392
66 6340
26 3418 13 14
33
197
020406080
100120140160180200
89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2001 2002 2003
Nearly All Nuclear PlantsWill Renew Their Licenses
License Renewal Status Mar 200424Intend to Renew
26 Granted
18 Under NRC Review
24 intend to renew
35 have
Not Announced
Intention
Workforce Issues
• 50% of workforce will retire in the next decade– Knowledge retention a major issue
• Shortages in engineers & health physics– Hiring now to ensure knowledge and experience is
transferred before 2015• Major concern in shortages of skilled trades
– Health physics technicians, I&C, welders• National program with Dept. of Labor, unions,
schools, universities & community colleges to ensure sufficient skilled workers are available
Benefits of Nuclear Power• Proven, reliable, low-cost supplier of electricity• Stable fuel cost• Improves the environment• Economic benefits – jobs & economy
– Each nuclear plant• Adds over $500 million/year to the economy• Employs ~ 500 – 1500, with an equivalent number of indirect
jobs
• Waste product is controlled, stored, monitored, protected and regulated
US Electricity Fuel Costs (1981-2003) 2003 cents per kilowatt-hour
Source: FERC/EUCG – Updated 9/04
0.0
2.0
4.0
6.0
8.0
10.0
12.0
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Nuclear 0.44Coal 1.35Gas 5.18Oil 4.82
Price StabilityNatural Gas Prices
Mar-2003$8.06
Jan-2001$9.13
$0.00
$1.00
$2.00
$3.00
$4.00
$5.00
$6.00
$7.00
$8.00
$9.00
$10.00
Jan-95Jul-95Jan-96Jul-96Jan-97Jul-97Jan-98Jul-98Jan-99Jul-99Jan-00Jul-00Jan-01Jul-01Jan-02Jul-02Jan-03Jul-03Jan-04
$/M
MB
tu
Reduce US Dependency on Foreign Suppliers
• 1,000MW capacity combined cycle plant operating at 90% capacity factor
• Natural gas fired ~ 77 billion cu.ft/yr. • Oil fired ~ 12 million barrels/yr
• By 2015 10% - 15% of US natural gas supplies will be from non-North American sources
• Nuclear can help stabilize natural gas demand, lower costs, improve price predictability, and reduce dependency on foreign suppliers
Environmental Benefits
• Nuclear generators eliminate Greenhouse gas generation
• Existence of a nuclear plant assists in siting industrial facilities (environmental cap & trade)– Eases burden of siting fossil fueled plants
• Assists in maintaining a balanced & diversified generating portfolio
The Hydrogen Economy& Nuclear
• Potential for new fuel system– Canadian & Japanese R&D using nuclear technology– Need for US pilot projects (using existing nuclear
plants) to test, validate process & infrastructure– Build foundation for launching advanced reactor
hydrogen production based on non-proliferation designs
• Cannot develop a hydrogen economy without nuclear and meet cost & environmental metrics using natural gas
The Need for New Nuclear Generation
• US needs 300,000+MW of new generation by 2025– Baseload needed after 2010 – clean coal & nuclear
• Increased environmental controls raise siting and cost problems for fossil fuel plants
• US industry needs low cost energy to sustain global competitiveness– A diverse and balanced generating portfolio– Base-load generation -- Non/low-emission – Nuclear lowest cost base-load generating option
New Nuclear Plants?• None ordered for 30 years• Reasons
– Until mid ‘90s an anemic operating record– Unpredictable licensing process– Design/Construct-As-You-Go approach
• Unreliable and prolonged construction
Licensing Problems Being Addressed
• 1989 – 10 CFR Part 52 introduced• Introduced a combined construction permit &
operating license (COL)• Resolves issues and contentions earlier• Provides more information earlier• Provides for more opportunity for comment &
requires a more disciplined process• Introduced ITAAC (Inspections, Tests, Analyses
and Acceptance Criteria)• Need for increased planning and project discipline
Financing New Nuclear Plants• Significant changes in electricity industry since 1970s
– Many companies not operating in cost-of-service• Wall Street nervous over new, unproven licensing process• Large capital projects diminish financial performance
metrics – earnings per share, etc• Innovative approaches to financing large capital projects
– Consortium approach– Public-Private financial structure for large projects that support
essential national infrastructure– Loan guarantees, accelerated depreciation, tax credits,…
New Plant Status
• Four designs approved – Six in pipeline• Three Early Site Permits under review -- 2006• Three consortia ready to test new COL process,
prior to formal application– 16 companies involved– Developing trial license applications
• Work to complete ~ 2007-8
– Decisions to order in 2007-8– Start construction 2009-2010
New Nuclear Plants?• Yes, if:
– Prove new licensing process -- predictable & stable– Establish a financial structure for financing large capital
projects that benefit national and State infrastructure– Nation gets serious about environment– Certainty on spent fuel disposal
• Energy costs, the economy & environmental issues will drive the need for new nuclear plants
Going Forward from 2005
Nuclear power plants provide safe, reliable, low-cost electricityStable cash flowHedge against volatility in natural gas price and supplySafeguard against escalating environmental requirements
Environmental Value
Forward Price Stability
Low CostSafe and
Reliable