Hongyanhe 5 achieves first criticality

Unit 5 of the Hongyanhe nuclear power plant in China’s Liaoning province has attained a sustained chain reaction for the first time. The 1080 MWe domestically-designed ACPR1000 pressurised water reactor is expected to be connected to the grid later this year, after which it will enter commercial operation. The first pre-critical control point of Hongyanhe …

Fuel Cladding Failures at Nuclear Power Plants Explained

The China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA) informed the IAEA yesterday that a minor fuel cladding failure  had occurred at the Taishan Nuclear Power Plant. What are fuel cladding failures, and what do they mean for safety? Read our explainer to find out. Nuclear power plants are designed with multiple back-up and diverse safety systems as part of …

Iraq hopes to build 8 nuclear power reactors by 2030

The country currently uses electricity and gas imports from neighbouring Iran to generate around a third of its electricity. BAGHDAD: Iraq, which suffers chronic electricity shortages, wants to construct eight nuclear power reactors by 2030 in order to reduce its external energy dependence, an official said Tuesday. The country currently uses electricity and gas imports …

5 Key Takeaways from the Nuclear Energy FY2022 Budget Request

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently released its Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Congressional Budget request which seeks a record $1.8 billion for the Office of Nuclear Energy (NE). This is a historic level of commitment by the Biden-Harris Administration and it clearly recognizes the important role our current nuclear fleet and future reactors will play in …

Samsung to Explore MSR Nuclear Power for Zero Emission Shipping

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries will undertake a joint research and development project with the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI), for the first modern exploration of nuclear-powered ships. Under the strategic cooperative agreement, they plan to explore the opportunities to use nuclear power as a solution for carbon-neutral shipping. There was great interest …

ROSATOM starts construction of unique power unit with BREST-OD-300 fast neutron reactor

The construction of a 300 MW nuclear power unit with an innovative lead coolant BREST-OD-300 fast reactor has begun at the site of the Siberian Chemical Combine (an enterprise of TVEL Fuel Company of ROSATOM) in Seversk, Russia’s Tomsk region. The event was attended by Tomsk regional governor Sergei Zhvachkin, ROSATOM Director General Alexey Likhachev, …

Vogtle Unit 4 achieves initial energization

Individual electrical components are now permanently powered Enables testing of systems as Unit 4 continues to progress through its testing phase Georgia Power announced today that plant equipment for Vogtle Unit 4 is now energized, or permanently powered, which is needed to perform all subsequent testing for the unit at the Vogtle 3 & 4 …

SHINE selects Dutch site for European production plant

SHINE Medical Technologies of the USA has selected the municipality of Veendam in the province of Groningen, the Netherlands, as the location of its European medical isotope production facility. The company is currently building its first production facility, using its transformational non-reactor technology, in Janesville, Wisconsin. SHINE said Veendam was selected following a year-long search …