Next Generation Nuclear Plant

Next Generation Nuclear Plant.

A Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) is a generation IV very-high-temperature reactor (VHTR) that could be coupled to a neighboring hydrogen production facility. It could also produce electricity and supply process heat. Up to 30% of this heat could be used to produce hydrogen via high temperature electrolysis significantly reducing the cost of the process.^[1] The United States Department of Energy issued in 2007 a "request for expressions of interest from prospective industry teams" that want to provide design services for developing the NGNP.^[2]

With an earlier focus on South Africa's Pebble bed modular reactor, in 2012 Idaho National Laboratory approved a design similar to Areva's SC-HTGR (formerly Antares) reactor as the chosen Next Generation Nuclear Power Plant HTGR to be deployed as a prototype by 2021. It was in competition with General Atomics' Gas turbine modular helium reactor and Westinghouse' Pebble Bed Modular Reactor.^[3]

The SC-HTGR is based on the GT-MHR.^[4] An industry alliance of General Atomics and Areva are targeting 2015 for submittal of a Construction Permit application.^[4]

See also

• Generation III reactor
• Nuclear reactor
• Fort St. Vrain Generating Station. The US's first large proof of concept helium cooled high temperature reactor.
• Pebble bed reactor

References

External links

• Next Generation Nuclear Plant Industry Alliance Limited
• ORNL NGNP page
• New Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) Project, Preliminary Point Design 2003
• The Next Generation Nuclear Plant - Insights Gained from the INEEL Point Design Studies 2004