GE-Hitachi Nuclear Energy will build a facility on its global headquarters in Wilmington, North Carolina, based around a novel laser technology from Australian company SILEX that will enrich uranium (U-235) up to 8% by weight.
It looks like a research facility. But the rumor a while ago that Hitachi, and GE for that matter, want to pull out of the nuclear business was, just a rumor, it seems.
From Business Wire (9/25/2012):
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's Global Laser Enrichment Receives Nuclear Regulatory Commission License f
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's Global Laser Enrichment Receives Nuclear Regulatory Commission License for Uranium Plant
First-of-a-Kind Facility Licensed by NRC to Make Laser Enrichment of Uranium a Reality
WILMINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's (GEH) Global Laser Enrichment (GLE) today announced receipt of its license from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to build a groundbreaking laser enrichment facility on the 1,600-acre site of the company's global headquarters in Wilmington, N.C.
While a commercialization decision must still be made by the company, the license enables GLE to build a first-of-its-kind uranium enrichment facility using lasers conceived of by Australian technology company SILEX and developed by GLE experts. The company has worked with the NRC, the U.S. departments of State and Energy and independent non-proliferation experts for several years to ensure the security of this technology and has met—and in many cases exceeded—all regulations pertaining to safeguarding this technology.
"Receiving our NRC license is a tremendous accomplishment and strong testament to everyone involved in this project," said Chris Monetta, president and CEO of Global Laser Enrichment. "The technology we've developed could be one of the keys to the nation's long-term energy security. At a minimum, it could provide a steady supply of uranium enriched right here in the U.S. to the country's nuclear reactors. These reactors provide approximately 20 percent of the nation's electricity today and will continue to be an important part of the energy mix for decades to come."
Today, a majority of enriched uranium made to produce nuclear fuel in the United States comes from foreign or government-supplemented sources. The GLE license, applied for in June 2009, will allow the laser enrichment plant to produce up to 6 million single work units (SWU) per year in the United States.
The next step in the process is for the company to make a commercialization decision. This decision will be based on several factors.
About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Based in Wilmington, N.C., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advanced reactor technology and nuclear services. Established in June 2007, GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety.
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Christopher White, +1 910-819-6121
christopher1.white@ge.com
or
Masto Public Relations
Tom Murnane or Howard Masto
+1 518-786-6488
tom.murnane@mastopr.com
howard.masto@ge.com
A bit more details from the local news station WWAY (9/25/2012):
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) -- The Nuclear Regulatory Commission today issued a license to GE-Hitachi Global Laser Enrichment LLC (GLE) to build and operate a uranium enrichment plant using laser technology in Castle Hayne.
The license authorizes GLE to enrich uranium up to eight percent by weight in the fissile isotope U-235, using a laser-based technology. It will be used in fuel for commercial nuclear power reactors. GLE plans to build the plant at the site of GE-Hitachi's existing Global Nuclear Fuel-America's fuel fabrication plant.
"Receiving our NRC license is a tremendous accomplishment and strong testament to everyone involved in this project," GLE President and CEO Chris Monetta said in a statement. "The technology we've developed could be one of the keys to the nation's long-term energy security. At a minimum, it could provide a steady supply of uranium enriched right here in the US to the country's nuclear reactors. These reactors provide approximately 20 percent of the nation's electricity today and will continue to be an important part of the energy mix for decades to come."
The approval comes more than three years after GLE submitted its license application and after safety and environmental reviews by the NRC.
There's no word when construction will begin. The company says "the next step in the process is for the company to make a commercialization decision. This decision will be based on several factors." It did not elaborate on those factors.
The NRC staff will conduct inspections during the construction and operation of the GLE facility. The agency plans to hold a public meeting in Wilmington before construction begins to explain its oversight plans to the public.
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10 comments:
Sooooo when we are going to try enriching thorium instead?
When you're making that commercialization decision, let's include consideration of ethics. It was unethical to impose on the Japanese people a nuclear reactor design that was not robust enough to survive a cooling system failure. This resulted in three GE-designed containments failing in quick succession, in an event that may yet be the end of modern Japan and the Japanese way of life.
There is no future in nuclear power. None. Not for anyone.
It is an evil technology that is beyond the ability of mankind to safely manage.
Further, when all the costs are counted, it is not truly economical. It only seems so because the public is footing the insurance bill.
Imposing more nuclear technology on any people is unethical. Invest your energy and time in smart grid, solar, wind, water, geothermal, and energy storage technology instead.
Hmm..
I would agree with your post in many ways, but :
- who imposed this kind of NR ? The Japanese gov. or... the US, or ? You should make it clear there.
- a cooling failure leads to a suden shutdown, a terrific process for the hardware, a very dangerous thing. No NR can withstand multiple suden shutdowns.
In case of an accident in Wilmington NC..what is the plan to protect the ocean with the GULF STREAM right offshore? An accident would first spread north and east via the JET STREAM into very populated areas such as Norfolk VA (several MILLION people there)..and then Washington DC (not too many people there..) AND finally NYC. But the Gulf Stream feeds to Europe..and is a major conveyor of water thru out the Atlantic. Does GE have the technology..and the financial backing (INSURANCE) coverage to handle their whoops? Cause it will happen....
What is wrong with putting this plant in Wilmington, North Carolina? Wilmington is located on the Atlantic coastline. It's only prone to getting hit by hurricanes. What could go wrong?
I thought the NRC had frozen the licensing process until they come up with a place to store all the nuclear waste laying around each plant? I guess it's like Japan's 0% nuclear by 2030 while they build new plants with 40 year licenses.
As for Thorium according to NEI it is "fertile" rather than fissile and at this point it isn't cost effective. Yes, other nations are working on it but none of the plants are turning a profit so Thorium isn't taking the world by storm. As a matter of fact if the Chernobyl accident didn't happen everyone would know a Thorium reactor had an accident. Of course this reactor didn't have any containment because Thorium and pebble bed reactors were supposed to be foolproof.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebble_bed_reactor#Thorium_High_Temperature_Reactor
@ anon at 7:14:
Just look at the oil industry. Despite no technology being available to mitigate or at least minimize deep-sea drilling accidents, and despite the fact that this has gone seriously wrong in the past, they just can keep drilling. And they are allowed to drill deeper and deeper, with even higher risks. If the oil industry can do it, well, then we wouldn't want to put the nuclear industry at a disadvantage in making profit by imposing unreasonable requirements, such as being able to clean up any messes they make, would we?
*mscharisma*
Humans sure suck.
For lack of a better place, I'll post this here.
It is a hilarious (provided you like to be cynical) webpage by the french 'no nuke' kinda group, that is compiling memorable quotes about nuclear power. Most of them are from french people, but there are a few from world figures (oh well, and al gore too).
If you like, I can translate them, meanwhile I'll pick just one, by the former CEO of EDF (nationwide french tepco) :
"C’est au contribuable à payer la recherche et le développement du nucléaire, sinon le kilowattheure d’électricité nucléaire ne serait plus compétitif."
Which translates exactly to "It is up to the taxpayer to foot the bill for nuclear power R&D, otherwise the kilowatt-per-hour price of nuclear electricity wouldn't be competitive anymore".
Where and when did this happen ? At a workshop titled "greenhouse effect and society", while he was acting CEO in 2002, and addressing the french upper house.
For french-speaking people : http://groupes.sortirdunucleaire.org/La-phrase-qui-tue-le-nucleaire
JA, I'd love to read them.
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