
Originariamente Scritto da
Curufinwe
Preso da wikipedia, che penso sia sufficiente per me che non sono di certo un esperto del settore:
The latest plant designs currently available for building are generally called generation III+ reactors. They include AREVA's European Pressurized Reactor (EPR), General Electric's ESBWR, Westinghouse's AP1000, and AECL's ACR-1000. Russia (see VVER), Japan, Korea, India and China all also have indigenous plant designs currently available for deployment.
In 2008 China planned for 100 reactors, all to be operational or under construction by 2020, in addition to other reactors planned or under construction (see Nuclear power in China).
According to the NRC, as of August, 2008 35 new U.S. nuclear power units are planning to apply for licenses.[54] Early Site Permit Applications have been filed in the U.S. for several AP1000 plants. As of March, 2010, this had dropped to 30.[55]
In July 2008, Russia announced plans to allocate $40 billion from the state budget over the next 7 years for development of the nuclear energy sector and the nuclear industry. This will allow for construction of 26 major generating units in Russia by 2020 — about as many as were built in the entire Soviet period.[56]
As of 2008, the UK has indicated that it will take steps to encourage private operators to build new nuclear power plants in the coming years to meet projected energy needs as fossil fuel prices climb, however there would be no subsidies from the UK government for nuclear power.[57] An online calculator outlining UK means and limitations in meeting future energy needs illustrates the problem facing lawmakers and the public.[58]
The 1600 MWe European Pressurized Reactor (EPR) reactor is being built in Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant, Finland. A joint effort of French AREVA and German Siemens AG, it will be the largest PWR in the world. The Olkiluoto project has been claimed to have benefited from various forms of government support and subsidies, including liability limitations, preferential financing rates, and export credit agency subsidies, but the European Commission's investigation didn't find anything illegal in the proceedings.[59][60] However, as of August 2009, the project is "more than three years behind schedule and at least 55% over budget, reaching a total cost estimate of €5 billion ($7 billion) or close to €3,100 ($4,400) per kilowatt".[61] Finnish electricity consumers interest group ElFi OY evaluated in 2007 the impact of Olkiluoto-3 to be slightly over 6%, or 3€/MWh, to the average market price of electricity within Nord Pool. The delay is therefore costing the Nordic countries over 1.3 billion euros per year as the reactor would replace more expensive methods of production and lower the price of electricity.[62]
Four ABWRs are already in operation in Japan, and one more is being built in Japan and two in Taiwan.[63]
Several Indian plants are planned as of 2008.[64]
Russia has begun building the world’s first floating nuclear power plant. The £100 million vessel, the Akademik Lomonosov, is the first of seven plants (70 MWe per ship) that Moscow says will bring vital energy resources to remote Russian regions.[65]
SSTAR, a leased reactor intended for developing nations, is under development.
South Korea plans to build 12 new nuclear power plants from 2009 to 2022.[66]
As of the start of 2010, ten African nations were exploring nuclear power.[67]