World Energy Outlook 2006

Agency (IAEA) created the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group, both
of which helped to spread best practice, to tighten safety standards and to infuse
a safety culture in nuclear power plants around the world. Regular meetings of
the IAEA–OECD/NEA Incident Reporting System, where recent incidents are
discussed and analysed in detail, are part of this global exchange process.
Countries have been brought together through the Convention on Nuclear
Safety to report on how they are living up to their safety obligations and to
critique each other’s reports. Safety indicators, such as those published by the
WANO, improved dramatically in the 1990s. However, in some areas
improvement has stalled in recent years and the gap between the best and worst
performers is still large, providing substantial room for continuing improvement.
Policy Overview
Nuclear Power Generation
The most significant policy developments towards a resurgence of investment
in new nuclear power plants have occurred in the United States (Table 13.3).
The Nuclear Power 2010 programme, launched in 2002, aims at streamlining
the regulatory process for building and operating new nuclear power plants
through the Early Site Permit (ESP) and the combined Construction and
Table 13.3: Timeline Leading to the Construction of New Nuclear Reactors
in the United States
Date Outcome
2002 Launch of Nuclear Power 2010 programme.
2003 The Department of Energy (DOE) invites proposals
to demonstrate COL and receives two ESP applications.
2004 DOE receives third ESP application. Issues guidelines
for COL application.
2005 EPACT 2005 passed in summer.
2006 By mid-2006, ten firms had announced their
intention to submit a COL. Further specification
of EPACT 2005 provisions.
2007-2008 Expected time for the submission of COL
to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
After 2007-2008 Final decision to proceed with construction.
2014-2020 Expected commissioning of the first 6 GW,
most likely on existing sites.
Source: Based on information from the US Department of Energy.
Chapter 13 - Prospects for Nuclear Power 351
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© OECD/IEA, 2007