atw 2018-07

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atw Vol. 63 (2018) | Issue 6/7 ı June/July 414 NEWS This year, the TCEP tracks progress against the Sustainable Development Scenario, introduced in the World Energy Outlook 2017, which depicts a rapid but achievable transformation of the energy sector. It outlines a path to limiting the rise of average global temperatures to “well below 2°C,” as specified in the Paris Agreement, as well as increasing energy access around the world and reducing air pollution. In this scenario, meeting longterm sustainability goals requires an ambitious combination of more energy efficient buildings, industry and transport, and more renewables and flexibility in power. The findings this year are compiled in an updated website, which provides easy navigation across technologies and sectors, and draws links across the IEA’s resources. The report will be updated throughout the year as new data becomes available, and will be complemented by cutting-edge analysis and commentary on notable developments on the global clean energy transition. | | www.iea.org/tcep/ Reactors NEI. New report sees threat of blackouts if nuclear retirements continue • Gas pipeline failure could lead to significant disruption in Midwest, Mid-Atlantic • White House says power plant retirements are negatively impacting resilience of grid • Preservation of nuclear power plants could lead to added resilience (nei) A new NEI study conducted by ICF details how a future gas pipeline disruption, combined with continued nuclear power plant retirements and/or failure to improve natural gas infrastructure, could lead to prolonged electricity service disruption in the areas served by the PJM Interconnection. The report comes as the Trump administration, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and PJM grapple with the issue of the electricity grid’s diminishing resilience due to premature nuclear power plant retirements. The ICF report finds that a disruption to natural gas pipelines would have a major, prolonged effect on electricity service in the Mid-Atlantic, if nuclear power plants are not there as a backup resource and/or natural gas infrasctructure is not enhanced. “Such an event could result in the loss of nearly 27 gigawatts [GW] of gas-fired generation, with 18 GW serving the PJM Mid-Atlantic area, depending on the severity and location of such event,” the ICF report says. “When combined with the retirement of a similar amount of nuclear capacity, the analysis implies such an event would put as much as 22 percent of the area’s load at risk of being shed in the highest load hours.” Earlier this month, the White House released a statement saying that “impending retirements of fuelsecure power facilities are leading to a rapid depletion of a critical part of our Nation’s energy mix, and impacting the resilience of our power grid.” According to the ICF report, during a gas pipeline disruption caused by extreme weather or equipment failure and lasting 60 days, the PJM service area would experience “load losses for more than 200 hours spread across as many as 34 days.” “Of the nearly 18 GW of gas-fired capacity that could be impacted by such an event, over 45 percent has no backup fuel capability and would be immediately unavailable during such an event,” the report says. The report examines a scenario, The Policy Case, in which nuclear power plants continue to run thanks to prudent state and federal policies. Under that scenario, nuclear power plants would be able to compensate for the losses in natural gas generation due to an unexpected interruption. “The nuclear capacity that remains online is able to offset the gas generation impacted by the infrastructure event, resulting in load being served in all hours over the 60-day period,” the report says. Nuclear power plants have a longterm supply of fuel onsite. A steady supply of fuel delivered via pipelines is necessary to generate electricity from natural gas. Some natural gas plants have the ability to run on oil as a backup fuel, but those supplies would only last for a handful of days before needing to be refilled. The steady supply of onsite fuel is one reason nuclear power plants are able to continue supplying electricity during extreme weather, including 2017’s Hurricane Harvey in Texas. Last year, Energy Secretary Perry directed FERC to “take swift action” to address threats to the resiliency of the U.S. electric grid and issue a rule requiring organized markets to develop rules to compensate “fuelsecure” electricity generators for the resiliency they provide. FERC declined to adopt that proposed rulemaking, but the agency did open a new proceeding in which it directed regional transmission organizations (RTOs) and independent system operators (ISOs) to assess grid resilience and recommend actions. The ICF report has been submitted to FERC as part of this proceeding. Last month, 10,000 megawatts of nuclear generating capacity failed to clear PJM Interconnection’s annual capacity auction. NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick said that result showed the urgent need for electricity market reform. NEI Senior Director of Policy Development Matt Crozat adds that mounting evidence points to serious underlying flaws in how electricity markets are set up. “This new study underscores nuclear power’s vital role in ensuring a reliable and resilient supply of electricity,” Crozat said. “Policymakers and administrators interested in continuing and strengthening the resilience of America’s grid should act promptly to ensure nuclear power plants are fairly compensated in the marketplace for the reliable, emission-free electricity they provide.” | | www.nei.org Fuel Management and Disposal U.S.: Huge bipartisan majority passes Used Fuel Management Bill in House • Republicans and Democrats join together to pass bill 340-72 • Passage major victory for Rep. Shimkus; sets up possible Senate legislation later this year • Bill expedites Yucca Mountain licensing, provides for centralized interim storage The U.S. House of Representatives made overdue progress toward solving the long-standing issue of used fuel management, with the passage of the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act of 2018 (HR 3053) with a bipartisan vote of 340-72. Rep. John Shimkus (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s environment News
atw Vol. 63 (2018) | Issue 6/7 ı June/July subcommittee, authored the bill “to reform the used fuel management and disposal program to assure its sustainability going forward.” A previous version of the bill passed the committee last year by a vote of 49-4. The Nuclear Energy Institute lauded the passage of the bill. “Today’s bipartisan vote represents overdue progress towards solving a longstanding issue. House passage of the Nuclear Waste Policy Amendments Act begins a much needed step forward regarding reform to implement, at long last, the federal government’s statutory obligation to manage used nuclear fuel,” NEI President and Chief Executive Officer Maria Korsnick said. “Earlier this year we marked a troubling milestone: 20 years of government failure to meet its legal obligation to take possession of used fuel. This abdication of responsibility has harmed electricity consumers and U.S. taxpayers.” The original Nuclear Waste Policy Act became law in 1982, creating a structured program requiring the U.S. Department of Energy to begin removing used fuel from reactor sites in January 1998. To cover the program’s costs, DOE and reactor owners entered into contracts under which owners paid a fee of one-tenth of a cent per kilowatt-hour of nuclear electricity generated into a Nuclear Waste Fund. To date, electricity consumers have paid more than $40 billion into the fund and with interest accruing more than $1.7 billion annually, a balance of more than $38 billion remains. Since 1987, DOE focused on developing a repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, spending approximately $10 billion on the program and submitting a license application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2008. In 2010, DOE declared Yucca Mountain “unworkable” and unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw its application. Since DOE missed the January 1998 deadlines, the courts have held the government liable for DOE’s inaction, awarding reactor owners damages for DOE’s failure to meet its January 1998 statutory deadline. “U.S. taxpayers have paid more than $7 billion in damages, and will continue to pay more than $2 million a day until the federal government moves the fuel from plant sites,” Korsnick noted. The technical staff of the NRC, after the court ordered it to complete its safety and environmental reviews of DOE’s application, found the repository in compliance with all applicable regulations. The court also ordered DOE to stop collecting Nuclear Waste Fund fees, which it did starting mid-2014. This bill includes provisions that would move the Yucca Mountain project forward by helping to resolve key issues such as land withdrawal and infrastructure issues. It would also increase the statutory limit for used fuel to be placed in the repository to 110,000 metric tons from the present 70,000 metric tons and clarify DOE’s authority to advance privately owned consolidated interim storage facilities. Additionally, it provides a pathway for bringing Nevada and the local communities to the table to discuss benefits associated with these projects. The legislation also addresses Nuclear Waste Fund fees, preventing DOE from collecting any fees until the NRC issues a final determination on the Yucca Mountain construction authorization application. It also restricts DOE’s fee collections to no more than 90 percent of the amount Congress appropriates for the program in any given year. Support for the bill came from many stakeholders, including a joint letter to Congress from NEI, the American Public Power Association, the Edison Electric Institute and the National Rural Electric Cooperation Association. Other letters of support were transmitted from labor unions, including the AFL-CIO, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and North America’s Building Trades Unions. The Senate has legislation of its own that could be introduced later this year. “The industry recognizes that the House and Senate have differing views on how to reform the used fuel program. We encourage the two bodies to continue to advance their respective proposals and reach a compromise by the end of the year,” Korsnick said. “We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers to reach bipartisan consensus on the best approach for the long-term management of the nation’s used fuel. We urge lawmakers to ensure that resulting legislation protects both electricity consumers and taxpayers.” | | www.congress.gov, www.nei.org, Research DOE awards $24 million to 10 advanced nuclear projects Awards focus on boosting efficiency and safety, lowering costs of advanced reactor designs Reactor control, load-following and prefabrication techniques win awards DOE’s Perry: Awards will help America retain its technological edge In yet another example of the current administration’s continuing enthusiasm for nuclear energy, the U.S. Department of Energy this week announced up to $24 million to fund 10 projects that will boost advanced nuclear reactor designs. The awards play a fundamental role in ensuring America retains its technological leadership in commercial nuclear energy, the Nuclear Energy Institute said. “It’s gratifying to see DOE taking a leading role in investing in the longterm future of this critical American technology that enhances energy security and boosts grid resilience while lowering emissions,” NEI Senior Technical Advisor for New Reactor and Advanced Technology Everett Redmond said. The awards are part of a new Advanced Research Projects Agency- Energy (ARPA-E) program, Modeling- Enhanced Innovations Trailblazing Nuclear Energy Reinvigoration (MEITNER), which will identify and develop technologies that enable designs for lower cost, more easily constructible and safer advanced nuclear reactors. “Nuclear energy is an essential component of the U.S. energy mix, and by teaming up with the private sector to reduce costs and improve safety, we are keeping America ahead of the curve in advanced reactor design and technology,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said in the DOE statement. “These next-generation ARPA‐E technologies help us maintain our competitive, technological edge globally, while improving the resilience of the grid and helping provide reliable, baseload electricity to each and every American.” Many of the awards focus on improving the efficiency and safety of several advanced nuclear technology designs now under development. The designs come in a range of sizes, from a couple of megawatts to more than a 1,000 megawatts of generating capacity. They feature a range of 415 NEWS News
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atw 2018-07

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