China’s HTGR demonstration reactor achieves criticality

The first criticality was achieved in China’s high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) nuclear power demonstration project in Rongcheng, East China’s Shandong province, on September 12. This marks another example of major progress made by the project following the completion of cold and hot functional tests at the plant’s two reactors, as well as its first fuel …

Ukraine intends to build NPPs, nuclear fuel production plant based on Skhidny Mining with U.S. support

The project for the development of nuclear energy worth $9.6 billion presented in the United States includes the construction of two power units of the Khmelnytsky nuclear power plant (NPP) and small modular reactors (SMRs), as well as a project for the construction of a nuclear fuel production plant on the basis of PJSC Skhidny …

Senate passes clean energy proposal after House adjourns from special session

The Illinois Senate approved a massive clean energy omnibus package after midnight on Tuesday evening, clearing the last major piece of Governor J.B. Pritzker’s political agenda for a vote in the House. The proposal aims to put one million electric vehicles on Illinois roads over the next nine years, and to transition the sixth largest …

Fuel loading under way at China’s HTR-PM

The loading of spherical fuel elements has begun at the demonstration high-temperature gas-cooled reactor plant (HTR-PM) at Shidaowan, in China’s Shandong province. The milestone came one day after the issuance of an operating licence for the twin-unit plant, which is scheduled to start operations later this year. China’s nuclear regulator, the National Nuclear Safety Administration, …

Turbine tests completed at China’s HTR-PM

Testing of the steam turbine using non-nuclear steam has been completed at the demonstration high-temperature gas-cooled reactor plant (HTR-PM) at Shidaowan, in China’s Shandong province. The twin-unit HTR-PM is scheduled to start operations later this year. Non-nuclear steam flushing is an important test for nuclear power projects to check the operating quality of steam turbine …

Preparations begin for next Turkish unit

Preparations have begun for the construction of the fourth unit at Turkey’s Akkuyu nuclear power plant, Akkuyu Nuclear has confirmed, with excavations for the reactor building, turbine hall, auxiliary reactor building and other main facilities now under way. Separately, Netherlands-based geotechnical survey company Fugro has completed a complex 6-month offshore site characterisation project on the …

Study reveals an increase in the frequency of nuclear power outages caused by climate change

Past research suggests that climate change and energy systems have a bidirectional relationship. In other words, just like emissions from energy systems can fuel climate change, climate change could also expose the vulnerabilities or shortcomings of energy systems. For instance, climate change could adversely impact the operation of critical energy systems and infrastructure, potentially disrupting the provision of electricity. …