Construction of a new reactor was started this week in China. The Russian-designed model is the fourth to be inaugurated since China resumed approvals for new plants at the end of October.
The British nuclear industry is on the verge of its renaissance, a London conference heard today, despite many uncertainties that remain now and for the future.
_48.jpg "EPR 3D design (EDF-Areva)_48")
_69x48.jpg "Tianwan 3 first concrete (Rosatom) 69x48")
Construction of a new reactor was started this week in China. The Russian-designed model is the fourth to be inaugurated since China resumed approvals for new plants at the end of October._for_home_page_305.jpg)
_72x48.jpg "Ningde first power, 28 December 2012 (CGNPC) 72x48")
A landmark was reached at Ningde 1 on 28 December as the delivery of first power took the reactor from the construction phase into commissioning. Operator China Guangdong Nuclear Power Company said it was the beginning of the nuclear power plant creating value for society.
France's first EPR is still on schedule for operation in 2016 but factors including new regulatory requirements and lessons learned from Fukushima have pushed the calculated costs of the project up.
The UK's Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has granted a site licence for EDF ¶¶Òõ´«Ã½ÔÚÏß's planned Hinkley Point C power station. It is the first new site licence to be awarded for a UK nuclear power station in 25 years, although further consent will be needed before construction can begin.
Russian leaders have affirmed the strategic and economic importance of nuclear technology to the country, announcing that spending will rise and a major development program will be accelerated._36x48.jpg "mPower cutaway (BandW) 36x48")
The Babcock and Wilcox mPower small modular reactor (SMR) has been selected as the winner of a US government program intended to help accelerate the pace at which this new class of power plant is brought to market.