Washington (Platts)--13Dec2007
Demonstrating the commercial viability of a high-temperature gas-cooled
nuclear reactor capable of producing both electricity and hydrogen could cost
between $3.8 billion and $4.3 billion, according to estimates from three
contract teams competing in the US Department of Energy's Next Generation
Nuclear Plant project.
The project is aimed at developing an HTGR by 2021. A prototype reactor
is to be sited at the Idaho National Laboratory.
The teams chosen to complete initial designs were led by Areva NP,
General Atomics and Westinghouse.
While there was a range for the cost of the prototype plant, DOE said
estimates by all three teams were very similar for the so-called "Nth of a
kind" plant, meaning those that are built after the first few are up and
running.
The estimate for a four-unit plant with a thermal power level of between
2,000 MW and 2,400 MW) was close to $4 billion, according to a DOE report on
the pre-conceptual designs for the next generation plant.
DOE said the report, which has a November date, is expected to be made
available soon on its web site.
--Jenny Weil, jenny_weil@platts.com
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