The nuclear energy industry landscape is changing. With Tennessee Valley Authority’s Watts Bar 2 nuclear power plant coming online it marks the first new power plant to come online in many years. Yet, many headwinds are also ahead for the nuclear industry. Industry safety and performance are at the forefront of the changes to come. As existing reactors provide over 60 percent of the zero-carbon electricity in the United States, some reactors remain on the hotlist for a premature shutdown. Of the 99 commercial reactors in the U.S., 15 to 20 could face an early closing in the coming years.
The Nuclear Promise
The nuclear energy industry’s initiative “Delivering the Nuclear Promise: Advancing Safety, Reliability and Economic Performance” is a 3-year program that has been implemented to improve efficiency and further advance the nuclear power industry. One of the driving forces for the creation of this initiative is the need to keep nuclear power pricing competitive within the energy market. As anyone in the nuclear energy industry knows, keeping on track with industry regulations is a significant factor within operations.
There are three strategic focus areas within the delivery of the Nuclear Promise:
1) Maintain operational focus
2) Increase value
3) Improve efficiency
Programs are being redesigned across the board to help better control costs and improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. By 2018, nuclear power plants currently operating in the United States should see a considerable reduction in overall operating expenses. Additionally, the reliability and plant safety should also experience many advances. An industrywide average for a reduction in electric generating costs has been projected to result in a 15 percent reduction by January 2017 and a 30 percent reduction by January 2018.
Among the heart of the Nuclear Promise is to leverage technology and this is where SavantX comes in. The innovative tools and capabilities that SavantX offers the nuclear industry are unparalleled. Successful implementation of SavantX within the nuclear energy industry has already taken place with customers already seeing marked performance improvement challenges being overcome.
With nuclear power being responsible for 14 percent of all electricity generated worldwide it holds much promise as primary energy supply option. SavantX is here to help deliver on the promise of more efficient (and compliant) nuclear power plants across the country.
