AREVA is the industry leader in development and implementation of digital Instrumentation and Controls (I&C) systems for existing nuclear power plants as well as new plants being constructed and licensed. We recognize and appreciate the need for a comprehensive and independent review by the regulator, in each country, where our systems are licensed and deployed. Based on AREVA’s worldwide experience, we are flexible and well-prepared to adapt designs and implement solutions to address particular regulatory concerns.

The press release issued today by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is a normal and expected part of the design certification process, and AREVA already has begun addressing the issues raised in the communication. In fact, these issues already have been widely discussed in the media and are old news. We do not expect this issue to have a significant effect on the development of U.S. EPR technology in the United States.

AREVA has already proactively identified design modifications to address many NRC questions, and is conducting work on a priority basis to implement those changes to facilitate timely NRC review in support of the design certification. Initial NRC feedback is positive regarding these proposed changes.

In a very limited set of areas, AREVA has stated its desire to maintain the design for enhanced safety and reliability, but is evaluating recent NRC feedback to determine what additional information could be provided to address NRC questions.

AREVA continues in its commitment to open and transparent communication with NRC and will keep them apprised of our plans and progress, to support a predictable and timely design certification review.

by Katherine Berezowskyj


Yes, Three Mile Island and Chernobyl were accidents, but they were also lessons that strengthened safety mentality. These lessons ushered a new level of safety, observation, and prevention. There is no “propensity to underestimate the chances of ‘low probability, high cost events’,” in the nuclear industry, as the nuclear industry knows that no risk is acceptable. 



Safety is not only a question of regulations and procedures. Safety is part of the nuclear industry’s fabric. It is part of the mindset and culture. That is why it can always be improved. It is fair to recognize that safety improvements are regularly implemented, at both design and operational levels, especially over the 30 year span since Three Mile Island.

The latest generation of reactors marries this mentality and decades of improvements. AREVA’s EPR reactor design has advanced safety features, providing even greater provisions for the risks arising from internal and external hazards. The reactor is both a reinforced steel and concrete box: whatever happens outside, no impact inside; whatever happens inside, no impact outside. The accident consequences are limited by an optimal combination of passive and active safety systems.

The EPR reactor is designed to resist an airplane crash with a double containment shell. There is a quadruple redundancy with independent trains for each safeguard system, core melt catcher and an even lower probability of core damage. 


But let’s not forget that the independent regulatory for the industry, the U. S. Nuclear Regulator Commission (NRC). Every nuclear power plant in the United States receives more than 2,000 hours of inspection and oversight activity each year from the NRC, in addition to a minimum of two resident inspectors on site at every plant every day of the year.

The nuclear industry is thinking of the risks both big and small and is working to prevent risks that don’t yet exist. Because no risk is acceptable.

“The Three Mile Island reactor accident happened in 1979. Fortunately, because of the design of our reactors, with their containment building, external damage and radiation were very small, but it was clear that operator training was inadequate to handle such an emergency. The NRC began strengthening its safety requirements. While industry protested that stringent regulation would cripple it, something very different happened. U.S. nuclear reactors went from a typical 60 percent capacity factor to more than 90 percent today, the world’s best. U.S. licensing and training requirements are today regarded worldwide as the gold standard. The industry also became more profitable in the years after regulation.”

– Burton Richter, member of the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Energy Advisory Committee in a letter published in the Washington Post yesterday

By Katherine Berezowskyj

As part of the biggest gathering of world leaders in the United States since the meetings that formed the United Nations, leaders from almost 50 states and other related organizations have come to Washington, D.C., this week as part of President Obama’s Nuclear Security Summit. This international meeting comes one year after his landmark speech in Prague calling for the world to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, and just a week after he signed a new START (strategic arms reduction) treaty with Russia, deepening both states’ commitments to further arms reductions.

The summit discussions focus on measures to address the international nuclear threat by strengthening the non-proliferation treaty regime, reducing and eventually eliminating existing nuclear weapons stockpiles, and developing measures to prevent terrorists from acquiring nuclear weapons materials. Although the discussions and negotiations center on engaging states for collective action, the role of the nuclear energy industry in supporting governmental measures remains critical.

AREVA knows the leadership role that industry must play and works hand in hand with governments, ensuring it meets and implements the multiple international obligations it operates under, supporting countries and the international non-proliferation regime.

AREVA CEO Anne Lauvergeon participated in parallel discussions as a panelist during the Nuclear Security Conference hosted by the Nuclear Energy Institute and on a Round Table hosted by Vice-President Joe Biden. Ms. Lauvergeon’s messages underline AREVA’s commitment and strict adherence to transparency and support of current non-proliferation efforts. Speaking last year at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, she affirmed that

“AREVA manages all of its nuclear facilities and nuclear materials in full accord with all international nonproliferation treaties, norms, and national regulations. AREVA does not, and will never, cooperate with any customer from a country that does not adhere to international nonproliferation norms, or is in noncompliance with its nonproliferation obligations.”

This commitment includes AREVA’s contribution as part of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s program to eliminate former weapons material. AREVA, in partnership with the Shaw Group, is utilizing its expertise and experience in the design and construction of the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility in South Carolina. This facility will reduce weapons stockpiles by converting weapons-grade material into mixed-oxide (MOX) fuel for U.S. nuclear power plants. The program is designed to eliminate, destroy, and disperse former nuclear weapons material while producing electricity in commercial nuclear plants. AREVA stands committed to enhancing the culture of non-proliferation among everyone involved in the nuclear energy renaissance.

The Ohio State University, College of Engineering, in partnership with Clean Fuels Ohio, the Jon and Susan Diamond Family Foundation, Honda, and many others have announced they will be hosting a conference, Moving Ahead 2010: Sustainable Transportation Solutions for the 21st Century, May 2-4, 2010. This event will bring together transportation and energy leaders from industry, research, government, non-profit organizations and education to have the tough conversations and build the momentum that will foster the actions we need for our transportation energy future.

Leading up to the conference, Interim Dean Gregory N. Washington, Ph.D., will begin framing the debate through a series of posts to his blog. We encourage you to visit the blog and learn about the issues.

By Katherine Berezowskyj

The situation for nuclear energy in the United States is changing. President Obama has come out in support of an expansion of nuclear energy and the Department of Energy has awarded the first loan guarantee. Nuclear energy, and the role it plays in CO2-free electricity generation, is growing.

The situation for the back end of the nuclear fuel cycle is also changing. For half a century, nuclear reactors have been providing Americans with clean energy. In addition to the thousands of megawatts of electricity, this process also creates used nuclear fuel. The 104 reactors in the United States produce approximately 2,000 tons of used fuel every year (which will grow as additional nuclear power plants are added). In total, some 62,000 tons of used fuel has been created to date.
read more…

From this weekend’s Wall Streeet Journal Op Ed:

“We’ve essentially fallen 10 years behind the rest of the world in nuclear technology, but the Obama administration’s decision to support nuclear will finally get the ball rolling. Within a decade we may very well catch up with the rest of the world in developing the energy technology of the 21st century.”

- William Tucker, Author “Terrestrial Energy: How Nuclear Power Will Lead the Green Revolution and End America’s Energy Odyssey“

We think these are a very good series of questions… and are proud to among the companies and organizations asking them.

Construction at MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility in South Carolina

A recent report from the National Center for Policy Analysis examines the growing demand for U.S. energy needs and the requirements that this energy comes from a renewable or carbon-free source.  The National Center for Policy Analysis finds in its report that “to meet this growing demand nuclear energy remains one of the safest and more reliable forms of energy available—it also emits no greenhouse gases…Nuclear power is reliable, sustainable, and clean.”

Reliable?
“Solar and wind require backup from coal, natural gas or nuclear power plants for day-to-day baseload power or for on-demand peaking power.  By contrast, the output from nuclear power plants can be adjusted based on user demand and to keep the electricity grid at maximum efficiency.”

Sustainable?
“An additional supply of nuclear fuel is readily available, after reprocessing, in the more-than-15,000 plutonium pits removed from dismantled U.S. nuclear weapons.”*

“An even larger fuel supply can be found in spent fuel rods from existing reactors.  Thus, recycling could provide an almost unlimited supply of nuclear fuel in the United State.  Recycling spent fuel would significantly decrease the problem of nuclear waste disposal.  Reprocessing can also be a boon to local communities and create jobs.”

Clean?
Nuclear power has among the lowest CO2 emissions of all energy sources.  Paul J. Meier of the University of Wisconsin analyzed CO2 emissions from various electric power sources over their entire lifecycle…Meier found that for every gigawatt hour (one billion watt hours) of electricity generated”:
-Coal emits 1,041 tons of CO2 equivalent
-Natural gas emits 622 tons
-Solar emits 39 tons
-Hydropower emits 18 tons
And nuclear power emits only 17 tons of CO2.

Check out the entire report, Nuclear Power and the U.S. Energy Future.

*(AREVA is a partner in the construction of this plant, the MOX Fuel Fabrication Facility, currently being built in South Carolina to turn these warheads into fuel for a reliable power supply.)

Image of U.S. EPR™

By Katherine Berezowskyj

Last week, AREVA and Fresno Nuclear Energy Group (FNEG), LLC announced that they have signed a Letter of Intent to formalize their work together in the development of a nuclear power plant project for the Fresno, California area.

This Letter of Intent means that AREVA and Fresno Nuclear Energy Group will begin cooperation on the initial development and permitting process for one or possibly two of AREVA’s U.S. EPR™ plants, beginning with the preparation of the Early Site Permit and subsequent Combined License Application to be submitted to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

John Hutson, President of the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group commented how “AREVA shares our commitment to carbon-free, renewable energy; like us, they believe that nuclear is only part of the solution—AREVA is a world leader in designing wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable energy systems, as well.”

The objective of the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group is to provide an environmentally responsible source of electricity especially to develop the state’s critical agricultural industry and support wildlife preservations efforts that are so vital to the Central Valley of California.

And nuclear energy isn’t just an environmentally responsible energy option; a new U.S. EPR™ would create up to 11,000 direct and indirect jobs during component manufacturing (including AREVA’s Newport News heavy component facility in Virginia) and plant construction.  On top if this, construction and operation would also create more than 400 permanent jobs and spur billion of dollars in investment in the local economy.  When the U.S. EPR™ is up and running it would produce clean, reliable baseload electricity for more than 1.6 million homes.

For more information about this historic partnership for clean energy in California check out the Fresno Nuclear Energy Group, LLC, the U.S. EPR™ by AREVA, and official Press Release.