Recent Activities of Nuclear
Power Globalization
Provisions against Global
Warming through the Global
Deployment of Technologies as
an “Integrated Nuclear Power
Plant Supply Company”
KIYOSHI YAMAUCHI*1

SHIGEMITSU SUZUKI*1

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) is striving to expand and spread nuclear power plants as an “Integrated Nuclear Power
Plant Supply Company” based on its engineering, manufacturing, and technological support capabilities. The company also has ample
experience in the export of major components. MHI is accelerating its global deployment through the market introduction of large-sized
strategic reactor US-APWR, the joint development of a mid-sized strategic reactor ATMEA1 with AREVA, and a small strategic reactor
PBMR. The company also plans to internationally deploy technologies for the nuclear fuel cycle. We present here the leading-edge trends
in the global deployment of these nuclear businesses, all of which help to solve the energy and environmental issues in the world.

most effective countermeasures against global warming,
together with countermeasures to promote energy saving
and new energies.
The CO 2 emissions per kW h of energy generated by
nuclear power generation are extremely small in comparison
to the emissions from thermal power generation with coaland oil, and from natural energy power generation withphotovoltaic effects, wind power, and so on (see Fig. 1). Thus,
nuclear power can help to substantially reduce greenhouseeffect gases.
Global warming reduction is a task of utmost importance

1. Role of nuclear power generation asa countermeasure against global warming
In December 1997, targets were determined for the
reduction of greenhouse effect gas during the Conference
on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (COP3) held in Kyoto. About 90% of greenhouseef fect gas from Japan is energy-derived CO 2 generated
during energy consumption and energy conversion into
electricity, etc. Nuclear power generation, an energy sourcecompletely free of CO2 emission, is thought to be one of theCO2 emissions per kWh

1000
800
600

742

(g-CO2/kWh (net output))
608

887

400

519
704

478
408

200
88

38

130

111

53

29

22

15

11

Co
a
powl-fired
er g theene rma
Oil
rat l
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pow fireder g theene rma
LN
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pow-firedthe
LN r gen ermaeGlpow-fired ration
er g thee rm(co nerat al
mb ionpow Pho ined)
er g tovo
ene ltaic
rat
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dp
gen owera ertion
pow
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ion
pow Geoer g theMeene rma
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i
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pow lesm
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ene auli
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0

Methods ofpower
generation: Combustion of power-generating fuels: Facilities and operation

975* CO2 emission calculations take into accountall energies consumed, from the mining of raw
materials to construction of power generation
facilities, etc., transport of fuels, refinement,
operation, maintenance, etc., as well as the
combustion of power-generating fuels.
* For nuclear energy, the CO 2 calculation
covers the spent fuel reprocessing underplanning in Japan re-use (with one time
recycling) and disposition of high-level
radioactive wastes, etc.

Source: Report of Central Research Institute ofElectric Power Industry, etc.

Fig. 1 CO2 emissions according to various power generation methods
From the website of Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, http://www.fepc-atomic.jp/library/zumen/pdf-data/all02.pdf

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol. 45 No. 1 (Mar. 2008)*1 Nuclear Energy Systems Headquarters

44

throughout the world. This, together with skyrocketing
pr ices for oil, is draw ing renewed interest to nuclea r
power generation in Europe and the United States. The
construction of new nuclear power plants in the U.S. has
been stalled for almost three decades, since the accident at
the Three Mile Island (TMI) Nuclear Power Plant in 1979.
But with the passage of the Comprehensive Energy Act,an NPP-friendly piece of legislation, in 2005, there are now
newly promoted plans to build 20 to 30 nuclear power plants.
The trend to newly build plants is also rapidly spreadingin Europe. China and India, meanwhile, are promoting
plans for NPP construction to respond to rapidly increasing
electricity demand. And the number of countries with plansfor nuclear power generation in the mid- and long-term is also
increasing in Southeast Asia. In December 2007, ministers
in charge of nuclear energy from nine countries adopted ajoint communiqué to promote nuclear power generation asa countermeasure against global warming, at a ministerial
level meeting at the Forum for Nuclear Cooperation in
A sia. T he communiqué urges inter nat ional societ y torecognize nuclear power generation as a means for reducing
greenhouse effect gas in the next framework for greenhouseeffect gas reduction (Post-Kyoto Protocol), and to accelerate
cooperation in Asia, a region with successive plans to
introduce and enlarge nuclear power generation.
Thus, our nuclear technologies accumulated throughongoing plant construction and maintenance activities
are expected to serve the growing need for nuclear power
generation. MHI has plans to promote the globalization ofthis business in a coming “Nuclear Power Renaissance.”use. This technology has been broadly and effectively used
not only for procurement, but also for manufacture withCAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing), approval in various
inspections, constr uction-process control for shor t-term
construction, and the prevention of human error. Throughthis use, it has helped establish an excellent quality assuranceorganization and quality management system (QMS).
MHI has abundant experience in supply and highreliability in the development and design of PWR fuels. MHI
has fabricated about 18,000 fuel assemblies by the end of
2007, with a fuel leakage rate at least ten times lower thanthat of overseas. MHI has also steadily proceeded with thedevelopment of high burn-up fuels in response to the needsof utility companies, achieving and applying high burn-up
fuels of up to 55 GWd/t for plants. MHI is now tackling thedevelopment of what will be the world’s highest burn-up fuelever (70 - 80 GWd/t). The company’s fuel development has
been continued in the areas of core design, safety evaluation,
evaluation of plant effects, design of transport cask, and review
on fuel fabrication based on broad experience.
2.2 Manufacturing capabilities
T he ma nu fact ur i ng technolog ies i n nuclea r power
generation cover diverse f ields. MHI has adopted, forexample, electron beam welding, a new technolog y forprocessing large components to assure high precision andenhanced reliability.
T he pla nt const r uct ion tech nolog ies a lso requi re“ma nu fact ur i ng capabil it ies,” i ncludi ng accumulated
technologies through plant construction experience. MHI
has managed to reduce its on-site construction period byapplying steel-plate-reinforced concrete (SC) and large
prefabricated blocks. Figure 2 shows the installation of theupper reactor containment of the Tomari Unit 3 of Hokkaido
Electric Power Company, the latest domestic PWR plant. The

2. Technologies supporting globalization
Nuclear generation must assure the social needs of“safety and security.” Comprehensive technical capabilities
covering the whole life of a plant are essential. MHI, as an“Integrated Nuclear Power Plant Supply Company,” hascome to realize these technologies based on its engineering
capabilities, manufacturing capabilities in manufacture andconstruction, and technological support capabilities mainly
in maintenance. MHI is convinced that these capabilities
are the technical basis for the global deployment of nuclear
power generation.
2.1 Engineering capabilities
MHI possesses technologies revered around the world.
Its core design technology and safety analysis technology are
essential for nuclear plant engineering. Safety analysis canevaluate and predict how stably a reactor and plant be operated
and controlled, and how the safety of a reactor and plant beassured by the actuation of reactor safety and protection
systems in when unanticipated events occur.
The company has long experience in using threedimensional data as technology for plant development anddesign. The system has been established to correctly andeffectively use vast amounts of plant data, and operation andapplication know-how has been accumulated through its

Super large-capacity crane

Reactorcontainment
upper headabout 40 m
in diameter

Fig. 2 Manufacturing capabilities(plant construction technologies)
Construction of containment vessel for Tomari Unit 3 of Hokkaido
Electric Power Company

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol. 45 No. 1 (Mar. 2008)45

upper reactor containment (diameter of about 40 m) was
assembled on site, lifted by a super-large-capacity crane, andinstalled at the precision of several millimeters or less on theperimeter of the cylindrical shell of the reactor containment.
The installation was completed in September 2005.
The steam generator delivered to Tomari Unit 3 is thehundredth steam generator manufactured by MHI.
2.3 Technological support capabilities
MHI also has its technological support capabilities to
respond to the needs of utility companies, in addition toengineering capabilities and manufacturing capabilities.
To ma x imi ze the ef fect ive use of the ex ist ing plants,
MHI’s technological support capabilities include highlevel inspections, proposals for comprehensive preventive
maintenance programs, repair works, and component
replacements. A ll of these capabilit ies enhance plant
availability, based on MHI’s knowledge and experience on
the whole plant.
T he replacement of large components requires thecareful integration of maintenance technologies. MHI has
realized many large component replacement works withinshort work periods by amalgamating its manufacturingt e ch nolog ies a nd c omprehensive pl a nt en g i ne er i n gtechnologies. This approach has contributed greatly to theminimization of radiation exposure for working personnel.

4. Development and market introduction of world
strategic reactors
4.1 Large-sized strategic reactor, US-APWR
T he licensing for the US -A P W R is now proceedingsmoothly in the U.S. The US-APWR, now under a licensing
process by NRC, has been introduced into the U.S. market
based on the A PWR design established for the Japanese
domestic market. This will respond to the need for prompt
plant constr uction by U.S. utilit y companies. T he US APWR, the largest reactor in the world, has a power output
of 1,700 MWe class per unit and improved fuel economy.
The excellent core design enables 24-month operation and areduction of uranium consumption to at least 18% less thanthat of existing reactors (see Fig. 3). The US -APWR has
achieved highest safety and reliability level by the adoptionof safety systems with best combination of passive and active
technologies and countermeasures against airplane crashes.
To respond to the strong need for construction cost reduction,
MHI is targeting a construction period of 41 months and hascommenced a study on site conditions with comprehensive
technological capabilities being mobilized. The main featuresof the US-APWR are compatibility between the high power
output of 1,700 MWe class and fuel economy, and enhanced
safety, reliability, and maintainability.
A pre-application review of the US -A PWR for Design
Certification ( DC) was started from July 2006 with the
U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Within only
a short period, it was recognized as a proven light water
reactor through the review. MHI submitted an application
for DC of the US-APWR at the end of December 2007. The
company is also supporting the preparation of an application
to a Combined Construction and Operating License (COL)
scheduled to be carried out in parallel.

3. Experience in exporting major components
Table 1 shows t he component expor t exper iencesc a t egor i z e d by de s t i n a t ion — E u rop e , t he A me r ic a s(including Cent ral A mer ica and South A mer ica), andAsia. For the A mericas MHI has provided a number of
replacement reactor vessel closure heads and replacement
steam generators in existing plants. In Europe, MHI has
provided the reactor vessel for the first unit of EPR in
Finland, and replacement steam generators for France andBelgium. The company received orders for two turbinesfrom China at the end of September 2007, and a replacement
reactor vessel closure head for Centrais Eletricas Brasileiras
S.A., in November 2007. As almost 70% of the nuclear power
plants in the world are of PWR type, high hopes are placedon MHI’s manufacturing technologies and quality assurance
systems around the world.

Table 1 Export experiences with major components
EuropeAmericas

Asia

Total

2

3 (1)

Reactor vessel

1 (1)Reactor vessel
closure head3

16 (5)

19 (5)

Steam generator

16 (8)6 (4)

22 (12)2

2

Primary coolant pump
Turbine

8 (4)

8 (4)

8 (4)

8 (4)

• Largest class power output in the world (1,700 MWe class)• Fuel economy improvement through 24-month continuous
operation• Target construction period: 41 months( ): number of components included, under manufacture or
before installation.

Fig. 3 Large-sized strategic reactor, US-APWR

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
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Core barrel assembly
Low/high pressure compressor

Power output : 165MWe
Generating efficiency : >40%
ReactorPower turbine
Recuperator

Generator: MHI scope• Reduction of development period through the synergy effect of
MHI and AREVA• Establishment of joint venture of ATMEA for design and sales:
November 2007
• Electric power output: 1100 MWe of net output• Amalgamation of MHI’s gas turbine technologies, design
and manufacturing technologies for nuclear components,
and PMBR’s gas reactor technologies• Demonstration unit : Koeburg, South Africa(operation start: 2013)

Fig. 4 Mid-sized strategic reactor, ATMEA1
Fig. 5 Small strategic reactor, PBMR

On July 1, 2007, MHI established Mitsubishi Nuclear
Energy Systems, Inc. (MNES) as a wholly owned subsidiary
in Washing ton D.C. MNE S has commenced sales andmarketing activities as a comprehensive center of the nuclear
energy business of MHI in the United States pertaining
to local affairs of DC application, sales activities for new
plants, and replacement large components. MHI expects tocommence construction of Luminant Power’s ﬁrst US-APWR
at Comanche Peak Site in 2012, and is continuing its efforts
to receive orders for succeeding plants in the United States.
4.2 Mid-sized strategic reactor, ATMEA1
Next comes the introduction of mid- sized strategic
reactor, ATMEA1, under joint development with AREVA.
Both MHI and AREVA are leading nuclear suppliers engaged
in all fields of nuclear development, design, manufacture,
construction, and maintenance. Through this cooperation
bet ween t wo la rge compa n ies w it h t he world’s mostadvanced comprehensive capabilities, the development
period up to the market introduction of the ATMEA1, an
attractive nuclear power plant can be drastically reducedwith an expected synergy effect. The two companies own
and operate twelve nuclear energy factories, enough to
avoid bottlenecks in component manufacturing and otherprocesses. The ATMEA1 will have a power output of around
1,100 M We, will be f lexibly adapted for the power gridconditions of various sites, and will be f lexibly designed
to adjust various regulations of the IAEA, United States,
Europe, and Japan. This will become possible through an
integration of experience and know-how from the 120 ormore nuclear power plants produced by these two companies.
With its design concept, the reactor will have resistanceand durability against airplane crashes, and the reactor
containment integrity will be assured for long periods during

severe accidents. This durability and integrity will make thereactor suitable for construction and operation anywhere in
the world. The conceptual design for the plant has alreadybeen completed, and development and sales activities will
be accelerated by the newly formed joint venture ATMEA,
established in November 2007 (see Fig. 4).
4.3 Small strategic reactor, PBMRThe small strategic reactor PBMR is a reactor-adopted pebble
bed fuel with a helium gas coolant using nonradioactive medium.
Its major advantage is zero risk of reactor core dissolution. The
pebble bed fuel is a mixture of uranium oxide particles andgraphite powder compaction-molded into a spherical shape ofabout 6 cm in diameter. MHI has participated in the project from2001, promoting the project by amalgamating its own gas turbine
technologies and nuclear component design and manufacturing
technologies with the gas reactor technologies of PBMR Ltd.
The 165 MWe reactor is designed as a module type that will be
extendible to meet electric demand in various regions, in the
expectation that it will be installed close to the site of power
demand. PBMR is scheduled to be constructed by ESKOM, apower company of South Africa, at the Koeberg Power Plant
site west of Cape Town. Startup is planned by 2013 (see Fig. 5).
There are also plans for U.S. deployment, and a pre-application
review for the DC is being carried out with the NRC.

5. Establishment and international deployment of
nuclear fuel cycle
Finally, we introduce MHI’s activities and developmentsin the area of nuclear fuel cycle. The company has broad andlong-term experience in this area. The fast breeder reactor(FBR) and nuclear fuel cycle at the Rokkasho Reprocessing
Plant is a culmination of many thousands of state-of-the-art
technologies.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol. 45 No. 1 (Mar. 2008)47

5.1 Establishment of the nuclear fuel cycle
MHI has been actively engaged in FBR development andplayed an important role in the projects for the Experimental
Reactor “Joyo” and the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor“Monju,” aiming at practical use of the FBR. As the FBR has
recognized to have the compatibility with both safety andeconomy, MHI was selected to serve as the core company
in FBR development in Japan. In response, MHI established
Mitsubishi FBR Systems, Inc. (MFBR), a new engineering
company to engage in the development and design of thedemonstration reactor and commercial reactor. MFBR
commenced operation in July 2007.

6. Conclusion
A s t he ne ed for nuclea r p ower gener at ion r apid ly
grow around a world, Japanese nuclear suppliers will beplaying a more global role. MHI believes that “safety andsecurity” are of top priority in nuclear power generation,
and will continue to supply reactor facilities, plant systems,
components, nuclea r f uels a nd t urbi nes w it h its ow ntechnologies, responding to the needs of the world, basedon its own experiences. The company also believes it cansurely cooperate w ith overseas companies during theoverseas deployment based on the know-how accumulated
from its experiences. MHI is keenly aware of the importanceacquiring global design certifications and accumulating
overseas const r uct ion ex per ience, to respond to t hereliability requirements of domestic utility companies. As
an “Integrated Nuclear Power Plant Supply Company,” MHI
will take part in the globalization of nuclear energy using theexperiences it has gained through its work to comply withthe high-level regulations and quality requirements in Japan,
and work to solve the world’s energy and environmental
issues with its own technologies.

5.2 International deployment of the nuclear fuelcycle
A joint proposal submitted by MHI with AREVA and theJapan Nuclear Fuel Ltd. was selected to become part of a“Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)” overseen by
the U.S. Department of Energy. Under this proposal, theAdvanced Recycling Reactor (ARR) fueled by plutonium, etc.
will be operated jointly with the Consolidated Fuel Treatment
Center (CF TC) to reprocess and reuse spent fuels in the
United States. This proposal was based on the intentionsof the Japanese Government, which had earlier decided toparticipate in the partnership originated in the United States.
MHI is taking part in this project in the hopes of developing
its concept of a fast breeder reactor in Japan as a world
standard.

Kiyoshi Yamauchi

Shigemitsu Suzuki

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Technical Review Vol. 45 No. 1 (Mar. 2008)

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