Nuclear powerU.K. approves new reactor designs
U.K. regulators have given interim approval to two new nuclear reactor designs — the EDF and Areva’s UK EPRTM and Westinghouse’s AP1000; the regulators say that there are still some issues to be addressed, and that neither reactor can be built in the United Kingdom until these issues are resolved
U.K approves Westinghouse's AP1000 reactor with modifications // Source: thaisurat.com
Generic designs for two nuclear reactors proposed for construction in the United Kingdom have been granted interim design acceptance by the independent nuclear safety, security and environment regulators.
The Office for Nuclear Regulation and the Environment Agency confirmed they are satisfied with how the designers of both EDF and Areva’s UK EPRTM and Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactors plan to resolve a number of remaining issues.
Neither reactor can be built in the United Kingdom until these issues are resolved.
For both designs, the Office for Nuclear Regulation has issued interim Design Acceptance Confirmations (iDAC) and the Environment Agency has issued interim Statements of Design Acceptability (iSoDA).
Having completed the planned assessment of the safety cases for the generic designs, the regulators have yesterday published reports on their respective Web sites, for each design summarizing the basis of their decision, together with their technical assessment reports. They have also published documents explaining how the designers plan to resolve issues identified in a report written by the U.K.’s chief inspector of nuclear installations, Mike Weightman, on the Fukushima accident.
