Current IssuesDOE's Nuclear Energy Programs

Dr. Peter LyonsAssistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy

U.S. Department of Energy

Intergovernmental Meeting with the U.S. Department of Energy

October 30th, 2013

2

President Obama’s Nuclear Energy Goals

"We have an obligation to leave our children a planet that’s not polluted or damaged, and by taking steady, responsible steps to cut carbon pollution and an all-of-the-above approach to develop homegrown energy …

Thanks to the ingenuity of our businesses, we're starting to produce much more of our own energy. We're building the first nuclear power plants in more than three decades in Georgia and South Carolina.“ - Georgetown University June 26th, 2013

3

“The United States is strongly committed to ensuring the safe, secure, and peaceful uses of nuclear energy while steadfastly preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons…

As we look collectively at the challenge of working to reduce carbon emissions while facilitating global development, nuclear energy clearly has a role to play. In that regard, I suggest that we should begin looking beyond the era of “Atoms for Peace” toward a model of “Atoms for Prosperity.”

Secretary Moniz on Nuclear Energy

2013 IAEA General ConferenceSeptember 16, 2013

4

Office of Nuclear EnergyMission and R&D Objectives

Develop technologies and other solutions that can improve the reliability, sustain the safety, and extend the life of current reactors

Develop improvements in the affordability of new reactors to enable nuclear energy to help meet the Administration's energy security and climate change goals

Develop sustainable nuclear fuel cycles

Understand and minimize the risks of nuclear proliferation and terrorism

The primary mission of NE is to advance nuclear power as a resource capable of making major contributions in meeting the nation’s energy supply, environmental, and energy security needs by resolving technical, cost, safety, security and regulatory issues, through research, development, and demonstration (RD&D).

5

NE FY 2014 BudgetRequest Summary

FY 2012 Current

FY 2014 Request

Integrated University Program 5,000 0

SMR Licensing Technical Support 67,000 70,000

Reactor Concepts RD&D 110,652 72,500

Fuel Cycle R&D 180,993 165,100

Nuclear Energy Enabling Technologies 71,307 62,300

Radiological Facilities Management 69,510 5,000

International Nuclear Energy Cooperation 2,983 2,500

Idaho Facilities Management 154,097 181,560

Idaho Safeguards and Security a 93,350 94,000

Program Direction 91,000 87,500

Adjustments 7,924b

-5,000c

Total, Nuclear Energy 853,816 735,460

a) Requested within Nuclear Energy in FY 2014 (retains Defense function), appropriated within Other Defense Activities in FY 2012.b) Includes +$7,924,00 transfer from Department of State. c) Use of Prior Year Balances

(Dollars in Thousands)

6

Key Areas of Focus

Small Modular Reactors

Blue Ribbon Commission on America’s Nuclear Future – DOE response issued January 11, 2013

Fukushima Dai-ichi accident response and research impacts

Nuclear Energy University Programs (NEUP)

7

Why are SMR technologiesof interest to DOE?

Safety Benefits

Passive decay heat removal by natural circulation

Smaller source term inventory

Simplified design eliminates/mitigates several postulated accidents

Below grade reactor siting

Potential for reduction in Emergency Planning Zone

Economic Benefits

Reduced financial risk

Flexibility to add units

Right size for replacement of old coal plants

Use domestic forgings and manufacturing

Job creation

NE working definition of SMRs: reactor units with a nominal output of 300 MWe or less and are able to have large components or modules fabricated remotely and transported to

the site for assembly of components and operation.

8

SMR Licensing TechnicalSupport Program

Supports first phase for deployment

Facilitates and accelerates commercial development and deployment of near term U.S. SMR designs at domestic locations

$452 M in cost-share program over 6 years• FY12 funding is $67M and FY14 request is $70M

DOE has selected one award under the first SMR funding opportunity announcement (FOA) • Babcock and Wilcox mPower Design selected

DOE issued a second FOA that places more emphasis on innovation in improved safety attributes and further reduces regulatory risk for some of the SMR technologies through:

• lower core damage frequencies• longer post-accident coping periods • enhanced resistance to natural phenomena • potentially smaller emergency preparedness zones• smaller workforce requirements

** Both the 1st and 2nd funding opportunities will be funded out of the $452M program**

9

1. A new, consent-based approach to siting future nuclear waste management facilities.

2. A new organization dedicated solely to implementing the waste management program and empowered with the authority and resources to succeed.

3. Access to the funds nuclear utility ratepayers are providing for the purpose of nuclear waste management.

4. Prompt efforts to develop one or more geologic disposal facilities.

5. Prompt efforts to develop one or more consolidated storage facilities.

6. Prompt efforts to prepare for the eventual large-scale transport of spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste to consolidated storage and disposal facilities when such facilities become available.

7. Support for continued U.S. innovation in nuclear energy technology and for workforce development.

8. Active U.S. leadership in international efforts to address safety, waste management, non-proliferation, and security concerns.

Blue Ribbon CommissionRecommendations

10

Key Strategy Elements

11

Congressional Activity

Senators Wyden, Murkowski, Feinstein, and Alexander introduced

comprehensive nuclear waste legislation – Nuclear Waste Administration

Act of 2013 (S. 1240)

Establishes a siting process for storage and repository facilities that relies on

consent agreements and Congressional ratification

Establishes a new organization – Nuclear Waste Administration – run by a single

Administrator and overseen by an Oversight Board

Addresses funding reform by creating a new Working Capital Fund in which fees

are deposited and are available as needed

Path to passage is difficult to predict

Court cases still pending

Some factions in Congress ready to “move on” from Yucca Mountain, while

others not

12

High temperatureduring loss of active

cooling

Slower Hydrogen Generation Rate• Hydrogen bubble• Hydrogen explosion• Hydrogen embrittlement of the

clad

Improved Cladding Properties • Clad fracture• Geometric stability • Thermal shock resistance• Melting of the cladding

Improved Fuel Properties • Lower operating

temperatures• Clad internal oxidation• Fuel relocation / dispersion• Fuel melting

Enhanced Retention of Fission Products• Gaseous fission products• Solid/liquid fission products

Improved Reaction Kinetics with Steam• Heat of oxidation• Oxidation rate

Behaviors of Accident Tolerant Fuels &Fuel and Cladding at High Temperatures

13

Nuclear Energy University Programs

Since FY09, NEUP and IUP have awarded

$290M to 89 schools in 35 States and

the District of Columbia.

14

The Harnessed Atom

A new middle school science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum available at http://energy.gov/ne/nuclear-energy

It covers the essential principles and fundamental concepts and addresses the latest science standards for crosscutting concepts about energy and matter.

The teacher’s kit is an updated and expanded edition of the acclaimed 1985 Harnessed Atom curriculum

The Harnessed Atom provides information on careers in nuclear science, research, and energy production

The curriculum is flexible enough to fit within the schedule of classrooms everywhere.

15

Sanmen – June 2013Source: SNPTC

Vogtle – August 2013Source: Georgia Power Co.

Summer – June 2013Source: SCE&G

Global Demand for Nuclear Energy Continues

Haiyang – June 2013Source: State Nuclear Power Engineering Feng Qingyi

Wang Jinjie.

16

Global Energy Distribution

as indicated by nighttime electricity use