Westinghouse, Aecon team up for nuclear new build projects
Westinghouse Electric Company and Canadian construction company Aecon have announced the signing of two agreements, creating a collaborative framework for the development and deployment of advanced nuclear new-build projects in Canada and around the world.
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Under a strategic cooperation agreement, Westinghouse and Aecon will work together on opportunities for the construction of AP1000 power plants in markets throughout Canada. Meanwhile, under a memorandum of understanding (MoU), Aecon can build on its experience of supplying AP1000 modules and nuclear components for the Vogtle plant in Georgia, USA, and other projects to potentially expand the supply of key AP1000 and advanced nuclear reactor components to projects in Canada and abroad.
Leveraging its fabrication and modularisation facility in Cambridge, Ontario, Aecon previously provided fabrication services of critical nuclear class AP1000 modules for the Vogtle unit 3 and 4 project, and on-site specialised welding services.
Headquartered in Ontario, Aecon is a North American construction and infrastructure development company and is a Tier 1 Canadian constructor with significant nuclear experience. Westinghouse said Aecon will support its advanced nuclear technologies to "provide a way to quickly deploy significant new nuclear to meet economic, environmental and energy security needs in Canada and globally".
"With extensive nuclear EPC expertise, strong technical knowledge, as well as specialised nuclear fabrication and manufacturing solutions tailored to meet the stringent demands of the North American nuclear power industry, Aecon is at the forefront of delivering nuclear infrastructure," said Aecon Nuclear Senior Vice President Aaron Johnson. "We are proud of our role in advancing the energy transition to help ensure the supply of clean, reliable and affordable electricity for generations to come. We look forward to collaborating with Westinghouse through these framework agreements as we continue supporting our clients in their technology selection and deployment."
Westinghouse Energy Systems President Dan Lipman said: "By partnering with Aecon, we are underscoring our commitment to helping to ensure that nuclear new-build projects of all scales will benefit the Canadian economy by employing local trades and creating jobs in Canada. For each four-unit AP1000 project Westinghouse builds in Canada, we expect to create nearly 8000 Canadian jobs during construction and another 12,000 full-time jobs for ongoing operations."
"With Canada's urgent need to bring more nuclear generation online to meet its objectives, the proven, fully operational AP1000 reactor becomes the natural choice because it can be deployed now," said John Gorman, president of Westinghouse Canada. "Today's agreement with Aecon further strengthens Westinghouse's construction and supplier relationships across Canada with an experienced AP1000 project partner to ensure it can move quickly to meet the nation's requirements."
Westinghouse - now owned by Canada's Brookfield and Cameco - noted the agreements with Aecon are the latest in a series of agreements with Canadian firms "that provide opportunities for expansion and diversification by supporting Westinghouse's advanced nuclear technologies globally".
Earlier this month, Westinghouse signed an MoU with BWXT Canada for the potential manufacture of key AP1000 and AP300 reactor components, including steam generators, reactor vessels, pressure vessels and heat exchangers.
In October, Westinghouse and Vancouver-based shipbuilding firm Seaspan ULC announced they had signed an MoU to support nuclear new-build projects in Canada and around the world. Under the agreement, Seaspan has the potential to manufacture key AP1000 and AP300 reactor components, including pipe spools and steel structures.
Westinghouse opened a new global engineering hub in Kitchener, Ontario, in June this year to support its growing Candu and global new-build business. Canada, it said, is now the third largest engineering centre for the AP1000.
In February, Westinghouse released a comprehensive, independent report from PricewaterhouseCoopers outlining the significant economic impact from deploying four AP1000 reactors in Ontario. Their deployment could have an impact of more than CAD28.7 billion (USD20 billion) on Canada's GDP during the manufacturing, engineering and construction phase alone, the study found.
KHNP, Candu Energy and Ansaldo Nucleare sign Cernavoda 1 refurb deal
Romania's Nuclearelectrica has ceremonially signed the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the estimated EUR1.9 billion (USD1.97 billion) refurbishment of Cernavoda unit 1 with a consortium of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, AtkinsRealis's Candu Energy, Canadian Commercial Corporation and Ansaldo Nucleare.
The engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract covers the development of the detailed design, procurement of equipment and materials, execution of retubing works and refurbishment works as well as construction of the necessary infrastructure. Its entry into force is subject to the approval of Nuclearelectrica's shareholders (it is 82.49% state-owned) and the approval of the Canadian government.
Candu units are pressurised heavy water reactors designed to operate for 30 years, with a further 30 years available subject to refurbishment. This includes the replacement of key reactor components such as steam generators, pressure tubes, calandria tubes and feeder tubes. It involves removing all the reactor's fuel and heavy water and isolating it from the rest of the power station before it is dismantled. Thousands of components, including those that are not accessible when the reactor is assembled, are inspected, and all 480 fuel channels and 960 feeder tubes are replaced during the high-precision rebuild.
Cernavoda is the only nuclear power plant in Romania and consists of two 650 MWe Candu reactors. Unit 1 went into commercial operation in 1996 and unit 2 in 2007. Most of the work on units 3 and 4 - like units 1 and 2, Candu-6 reactors - was done in the 1980s prior to the fall of the government of Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. Work is now on-going to construct units 3 and 4, with scheduled commercial operation in 2030 and 2031.
The unit 1 refurbishment project began in 2017 and is currently in the second of three phases. This phase, due to last from February 2022 to 2026, covers providing the financial resources, negotiating and granting engineering, procurement and construction contracts, assessing, preparing and scheduling the activities to be carried out and obtaining all the authorisations and approvals necessary to start the project. The third phase, scheduled for 2027 to 2029, starts with the shutdown of unit 1 and includes all the work required on it and its recommissioning.
Cosmin Ghita, Nuclearelectrica CEO, said: "The goal for Cernavoda NPP unit 1 refurbishment is to ensure the operation of the unit for another life cycle in conditions of safety and economic efficiency ... carried out according to standards of excellence and the international experience gained from the refurbishment of the other Candu nuclear units worldwide. This is a key project which will extend unit 1’s operational life by 30 years to support Romania’s decarbonisation goals by avoiding an additional 5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. We are keen to work with internationally renowned partners which have historically contributed to the current operational performance of Cernavoda units 1 and 2."
Candu Energy, the original supplier of the reactor technology for Cernavoda unit 1, and Ansaldo Nucleare will lead the engineering and procurement aspects of the Nuclear Steam Plant and Balance of Plant, respectively. KHNP said it would oversee the entire execution process including replacement of major components, and the construction of main infrastructure such as a radioactive waste storage facility. KHNP’s share of the project amounts to approximately EUR840 million. KHNP will work alongside key domestic partners, including KEPCO KPS, Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai E&C and Samsung C&T.
Joe St Julian, President, Nuclear, at AtkinsRealis, said: "The last seven Candu reactors built around the world, and the ongoing life extension of 10 Candu reactors in Ontario, have been conducted on time and on budget. As the only organisation that has taken a leading role in every Candu reactor life extension project to date globally, our unmatched track record of executing on schedule, cost, safety, and quality performance, along with the expertise of our top-tier, proven consortium partners, will deliver this project for Romania at and above their expectations."
Whang Joo-ho, President and CEO of KHNP, said: "This achievement reaffirms the global recognition of KHNP’s operation and maintenance expertise, cultivated over five decades. Through the successful completion of the Cernavoda unit 1 refurbishment project, we will further strengthen KHNP’s global presence."
Daniela Gentile, CEO of Ansaldo Nucleare, said the signing of the contract "reaffirms the enduring trust that Nuclearelectrica has consistently placed in us and our partners, endorsing our expertise. This achievement not only strengthens our partnership with Nuclearelectrica but also, following the signing of the EPCM contract for Cernavoda units 3 and 4 during COP29 in Baku, further consolidates Ansaldo Nucleare’s presence in Romania”.
Bobby Kwon, President and CEO of Canadian Commerical Corporation (CCC), said: "CCC appreciates the confidence that Romania has demonstrated to-date in Canadian nuclear technology and is pleased to facilitate this important project that will ensure Romanians continue to have access to emission-free energy and helps realise Romania’s potential as a regional hub for clean electricity in Eastern Europe."
Joint venture planned for commercialisation of Newcleo SMR
France-based innovative reactor developer Newcleo is to create a joint venture with Italy's NextChem to develop a new generation commercial-scale power plant, based on Newcleo's LFR-AS-200 small modular lead-cooled fast reactor.
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According to an agreement signed with NextChem's parent company - Italian technology and engineering group Maire SpA - upon execution of binding agreements Newcleo will take a 40% stake in NextChem's newly incorporated company focused on creating new intellectual property and performing technical services.
The deal will result in NextChem being granted newly issued shares up to 5% of Newcleo's share capital at pre-money valuation, subject to the achievement of certain milestones - the first of which is Newcleo's entrance into the joint venture company, and the last being linked to the final investment decision by the first client.
The transaction is expected to be finalised by the end of February 2025.
Under the agreement, NextChem will contribute skills, management and engineering competences and tools to the joint venture, as well as a dedicated commercial platform for the deployment of LFR-AS-200 projects.
Newcleo will develop the nuclear reactor for its own LFR-AS-200 technology, while NextChem will leverage its own know-how to enable the joint venture company to deliver the extended basic design, procure the critical proprietary equipment relevant to the conventional island and balance of plant of the nuclear power plant, and provide project management/integration services to Newcleo.
"The conventional island and balance of plant are essential to convert nuclear energy into electrical power dispatchable to the grid or used to serve chemical districts according to NextChem's e-Factory format, thus contributing to the decarbonisation of the chemical industry by producing low-carbon chemicals and e-fuels," the partners said.
The joint venture company will also provide integration services to other small modular reactor (SMR) and advanced modular reactor vendors who are not competing with Newcleo. "This business model will serve the industrialisation of the energy transition for any customer potentially interested in implementing power plants based on Generation IV nuclear technologies," they said.
Tecnimont - another Maire subsidiary - will be granted a preferred partner status for the delivery of projects, thanks to its state-of-the-art modularisation approach to optimise construction and planning methodology, reducing time and costs.
"This collaboration is a clear representation of our ability to offer a complete range of services for energy transition combining our innovative vision on sustainable technology solutions with our traditional competences in integrated engineering solutions," said Maire CEO Alessandro Bernini. "Today we set a further milestone in our progressive path to implement carbon-neutral chemistry models based on safe, reliable and competitive energy supply."
Newcleo CEO Stefano Buono said: "This joint venture brings together the best of our respective expertise and skills to trailblaze the delivery of new nuclear technologies. Maire's sustainable technology value proposition provided through NextChem, strong track record in international EPC delivery, optimising process plant and implementing modularisation makes them the perfect partner for the modular design of our Advanced Lead-Cooled Fast Reactors. Their approach to a circular economy dovetails with our aim to close the nuclear fuel cycle and provide a sustainable solution to the issue of waste.
"This venture marks a new era for collaboration in the sector, which alongside other partnerships will be instrumental in realising the energy transition. We are glad to see major technology and engineering companies entering the nuclear business' fast race towards a decarbonised world."
According to Paris-headquartered Newcleo's delivery roadmap, the first non-nuclear pre-cursor prototype of its reactor is expected to be ready by 2026 in Italy, the first reactor operational in France by the end of 2031, while the final investment decision for the first commercial power plant is expected around 2029.
At the same time, Newcleo will directly invest in a mixed uranium/plutonium oxide (MOX) plant to fuel its reactors. In June 2022, Newcleo announced it had contracted France's Orano for feasibility studies on the establishment of a MOX production plant.
Oklo signs power agreement with data centre developer
In what is claimed to be "one of the largest corporate power agreements in history", US nuclear power plant developer Oklo has signed a non-binding Master Power Agreement with data centre designer, builder and operator Switch to deploy 12 GW of Oklo Aurora powerhouse projects by 2044.
The Master Agreement establishes a framework for collaboration, with California-based liquid metal fast reactor developer Oklo expected to develop, construct and operate Aurora powerhouses to provide power to Switch across the USA through a series of individual binding power purchase agreements.
Since January 2016, all Switch data centres have been powered by 100% renewable energy, nearly 984 gigawatt-hours of power annually. The partners said this Master Agreement with Oklo supports Las Vegas-headquartered Switch's mission to "build efficient, sustainable infrastructure while bolstering the voluntary market for renewable and clean energy sources".
They added: "This Master Agreement highlights Oklo's business model of simplifying clean energy access by selling power, not power plants. It offers customers a direct, flexible pathway to clean, reliable, and affordable advanced nuclear energy."
Oklo's model is to build, own and operate its reactors - it will be selling power rather than power plants. The company, founded in 2013 and with OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman as chairman, says its deployment model can be tailored to individual needs and will help industries reduce reliance on existing grids.
The Aurora powerhouse is a fast neutron reactor that uses heat pipes to transport heat from the reactor core to a supercritical carbon dioxide power conversion system to generate electricity. It uses metallic fuel to produce up to 50 MWe as well as producing usable heat, and can operate on fuel made from fresh HALEU or used nuclear fuel. It says it aims to deploy its first commercial unit before the end of the decade.
"The relationship with Oklo underscores our commitment to deploying advanced nuclear power at a transformative scale for our data centres, further enhancing our offerings of one of the world's most advanced data centre infrastructures to current and future Switch clients," said Switch Founder and CEO Rob Roy. "By utilising Oklo's powerhouses, we aim to ensure that Switch remains the leader in data centre sustainability while supporting our vision of energy abundance."
"We are excited to collaborate with Switch on this historic agreement," said Jacob DeWitte, co-founder and CEO of Oklo. "Rob Roy and the Switch team share the vision we have for nuclear energy's role in powering artificial intelligence and providing the world with energy abundance. Oklo expects to benefit enormously from Switch's record of turning visions into reality.
"The lifespan of this Master Agreement will allow us to iterate and evolve with Switch, from development to deployment to scaling. We believe that working with Switch will not only accelerate our early powerhouses but also accelerate our ability to scale by demonstrating customer demand for decades to come."
There has been growing interest from operators of data centres in using nuclear energy, which they see as a way to meet their considerable projected energy requirements while also helping them to meet their climate commitments. The past few months have seen Microsoft, Google and Amazon all signing agreements to use nuclear energy in the years to come in the USA.
Last month, Oklo said it had a customer pipeline of 2100 MW for its Aurora powerhouse reactors, which it says will range from 15 MWe to 50 MWe and be scalable.
Reactor vessel installed at Xudabao 4
The reactor vessel has been installed in its design position at Xudabao 4, Rosatom has announced.
In June 2018, Russia and China signed agreements, including for the construction of two VVER-1200 reactors at the new Xudabao (also known as Xudapu) nuclear power plant site in Liaoning province.
The two units - 3 and 4 - are scheduled for commissioning in 2027-2028.
Alexey Bannik, vice president of Rosatom's JSC Atomstroyexport for projects in China, said: "The Xudabao NPP construction project is a striking example of cooperation between Russia and China in the field of high technology. Our partnership spans more than a decade, and the power units created according to the Russian design have demonstrated many years of efficient and trouble-free operation. And our joint history continues."
Agreements signed in June 2019 are for Rosatom to supply nuclear fuel, design the nuclear island, supply key equipment, as well as provide field supervision, installation supervision, and commissioning services for the supplied equipment. Turbine generators and balance of plant are being supplied by China.
Construction of Xudabao unit 3 began in July 2021, with that of unit 4 starting in May 2022. In June this year, the dome was hoisted into place on the reactor building of unit 4 in a single stage process.
When completed, the two units are expected to generate more than 18 billion kWh of electricity per year, equivalent to saving about 6.4 million tonnes of coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by about 18.9 million tonnes per year.
Two CAP1000 reactors - the Chinese version of the Westinghouse AP1000 - are planned for units 1 and 2 of the Xudabao plant. Construction of unit 1 began in November 2023.
The Xudabao plant is owned by Liaoning Nuclear Power Company Limited, a joint venture between China National Nuclear Corporation (70%), Datang International Power Generation Company (20%) and State Development and Investment Corporation (10%).
US development agency announces grants for Bulgarian nuclear projects
The US Trade and Development Agency has signed two grant agreements to support Bulgaria's nuclear ambitions: one will support a cost-shared feasibility study with US company Deep Isolation to support the safe underground disposal of used fuel from Bulgaria's nuclear power plants, while the other will support a prefeasibility study for the deployment of small modular reactor technology.
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The US agency-funded study on underground disposal will be carried out by Deep Isolation to evaluate the feasibility of disposing used fuel from existing and future power plants a kilometre or more below ground, using Deep Isolation's patented deep borehole technology. The agreement was signed by US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Director Enoh Ebong and, on behalf of the Bulgarian government, by Sergey Tzochev, Head of the Board of Directors for State Enterprise Radioactive Waste (SERAW), who said: "Partnering with Deep Isolation represents a step toward our long-term vision of exploring innovative and sustainable approaches for the safe management of radioactive waste, based on the latest advancements in science and technology."
"Bulgaria is prioritising safety measures that will allow it to expand its nuclear power generation capacity," Ebong said. "Using cutting-edge US technology to create a safe long-term disposal option for spent fuel can also open the door to additional plants being built. USTDA's support for this project is a continuation of our longstanding engagement with the country's nuclear energy sector."
A separate grant agreement signed by USTDA with state-owned Bulgaria Energy Holding (BEH) is for a detailed technical analysis of US-sourced small modular reactor (SMR) design options to support Bulgaria's planned deployment of one or more SMR nuclear plants. It will also support an examination of potential plant sites and the development of a roadmap outlining a path to implementation, including an approach to securing financing.
"Our assistance will support Bulgaria’s goal of remaining a regional leader in electricity production while supporting international decarbonisation efforts," Ebong said.
"USTDA’s study will be crucial for the application of the new SMR energy technology in Bulgaria," Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov said.
BEH is a state-owned holding company which owns the main electricity generation facilities in Bulgaria, including the existing Kozloduy nuclear power plant, as well as the country's electricity and gas transmission grids and transit networks. In 2021, it signed a memorandum of understanding with US engineering firm Fluor to look at the possibility of replacing coal boilers with NuScale SMRs. The country has committed to stop using coal for electricity generation by the late 2030s, with plans including two new Westinghouse AP1000 reactors to be built at the Kozloduy site.
The USTDA strategically facilitates export opportunities for US companies, funding project preparation and partnership-building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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