ANVS shares assessment of feasibility studies for new nuclear power plants
The three designs for possible new nuclear power plants currently seem suitable for construction in the Netherlands, as shown by our assessment of the self-studies submitted by the designers. These studies were performed at the request of the Ministry for Climate Policy and Green Growth (KGG).
Feasibility studies commissioned by the Ministry for Climate Policy and Green Growth
The Ministry asked three companies to investigate whether their designs meet the requirements of the ANVS’s technical frameworks. The Ministry has asked the ANVS to assess whether or not construction in the Netherlands is feasible in terms of safety based on these studies. This is what we have done.
The companies were also asked to investigate whether or not construction is possible on a site at the preferred location of Borssele, what the required construction time would be, as well as the associated costs. These investigations are referred to as technical feasibility studies and involve the designs AP-1000 (Westinghouse), APR-1400 (Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power) and EPR (Électricité du France).
The Ministry has since indicated that Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power has withdrawn as a possible technology provider. We reviewed the KHNP self-study before this information was shared with us, and the results are included in our publication.
Safety requirements leading
These companies have assessed their designs based on our Guidelines to the Safe Design and Operation of Nuclear Reactors (VOKB – in Dutch). They have also clearly stated how their designs differ from these Guidelines, while ensuring that they meet the safety levels required by Dutch law.
We have reviewed the results of this assessment for each design. In the ANVS review of outcomes of technical feasibility studies of nuclear power plants (available in Dutch only under the title ANVS-beeld uitkomsten technische haalbaarheidsstudies kerncentrales) we explain our conclusions and which key concerns we have observed. The Ministry can use this information in the tendering procedure to choose a company that will ultimately lead construction in the Netherlands.
Licence not guaranteed
We have performed a general review of the assessments and the designs of the companies. Our review therefore does not guarantee that we will ultimately be able to issue a licence. This is due to the fact that we have not conducted any extensive assessments of our own.
Initiating parties require a licence from us (in Dutch) to build and operate a nuclear power plant. During the licensing process we will assess if this can be done safely and we will include the safety requirements for a specific location. We have not done that at this time. A draft licence is also open for public participation during the licensing procedure.
More information about technical feasibility studies (in Dutch) is available at Overkernenergie.nl.