Tetra Tech, Inc.

10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340

Fairfax, VA 22030

phone 703-385-6000

fax 703-385-6007

TO: Paul Shriner, EPA

FROM: John Sunda (SAIC) and Kelly Meadows

DATE: March 11, 2011

SUBJECT: Future of Nuclear Power Plant Designs

The DOE websites and publications all refer to nuclear technologies classifications as 

being Generation I, II, III, III+, or IV. Those currently ope

and III. 

It appears that in the relatively near term new nuclear plants 

Generation III+ designs (light water reactors). 

50 cost shared collaborative program with industry

technical, regulatory, and institutional barriers to buildi

the United States, and securing industry decisions to construct and operate those plants” 

(U.S.DOE 2009). Most of the objectives and activities planned under NP 2010 have been 

accomplished or are near completion and the prog

2011.

The following Generation III+ 

the design certification application 

 The Westinghouse Advanced Passive Pressurized Water 

 The General Electric-

(ESBWR);

 The Mitsubishi Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (

 The Areva Evolutionary Power Reactor

These Generation III+ reactor designs incorporate both active and passive safety features 

and are generally more efficient than existing Generation III reactors. However, 

thermal efficiency was reported to be around 35

only slightly better than the already built 30+ yr old 

MEMORANDUM

10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340

Paul Shriner, EPA

John Sunda (SAIC) and Kelly Meadows

March 11, 2011

Future of Nuclear Power Plant Designs

The DOE websites and publications all refer to nuclear technologies classifications as 

being Generation I, II, III, III+, or IV. Those currently operating in US are Generation II 

It appears that in the relatively near term new nuclear plants will be what DOE calls 

ight water reactors). Recently, the DOE has entered into a 50

collaborative program with industry with two main goals: “removing the 

technical, regulatory, and institutional barriers to building new nuclear power plants in 

the United States, and securing industry decisions to construct and operate those plants” 

Most of the objectives and activities planned under NP 2010 have been 

accomplished or are near completion and the program is being phasing out entirely in

Generation III+ new reactor designs have completed or nearly completed 

pplication review process at the NRC:

Westinghouse Advanced Passive Pressurized Water Reactor (AP1000)

-Hitachi Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor 

Mitsubishi Advanced Pressurized Water Reactor (USAPWR);

Evolutionary Power Reactor (US EPR).

These Generation III+ reactor designs incorporate both active and passive safety features 

are generally more efficient than existing Generation III reactors. However, 

efficiency was reported to be around 35% to 37% for several of them which

etter than the already built 30+ yr old Generation II & III plants. The 

The DOE websites and publications all refer to nuclear technologies classifications as 

rating in US are Generation II 

will be what DOE calls 

Recently, the DOE has entered into a 50-

with two main goals: “removing the 

ng new nuclear power plants in 

the United States, and securing industry decisions to construct and operate those plants” 

Most of the objectives and activities planned under NP 2010 have been 

ram is being phasing out entirely in FY 

new reactor designs have completed or nearly completed 

Reactor (AP1000);

Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor 

These Generation III+ reactor designs incorporate both active and passive safety features 

are generally more efficient than existing Generation III reactors. However, the 

% for several of them which is 

eneration II & III plants. The 
current licensing schedule for new reactors planned in the US is presented in Attachment 

A.

NRC design certification pre-application reviews may occur soon for:

 The Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd Advanced CANDU Reactor (ACR);

 The Westinghouse International Reactor Innovative & Secure reactor (IRIS);

 The Eskom Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR);

 The Toshiba Super Safe, Small and Simple (4S);

 The General Atomics Gas Turbine Modular Helium Reactor (GT-MHR).

These include some innovative designs with generally higher thermal efficiencies in the 

range of 40-48% (World Nuclear Association 2011).

The DOE Generation IV program is focused on very high temperature reactor 

technologies for use in a Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP). These reactors will be 

capable of producing hydrogen and other energy products. The program is also focused 

on readying technologies that will further improve the economic and safety performance 

of existing light water reactors (U.S.DOE 2008). Generation IV innovative designs such 

as the very high temperature reactor (HTR) will likely have efficiencies in the mid 40s%

with the PB-HTR design having an expected efficiency of 46% and others Generation IV 

HTR types having efficiencies around 45% (U.S.DOE 2008). Commercial development 

of these will be much longer term, likely by 2020 to 2030.

References

U.S. DOE. Office of Nuclear Energy. Nuclear Power 2010. May 2009. Accessed at:

http://www.ne.doe.gov/pdfFiles/factSheets/NP2010.pdf

U.S. DOE. “Next-Generation Nuclear Energy - Generation IV systems concepts excel in 

safety, sustainability, cost effectiveness and proliferation resistance.” (last modified 

February 1, 2008).

Accessed at: 

http://www.ne.doe.gov/pdfFiles/factSheets/NextGenerationNuclearEnergy.pdf

World Nuclear Association. Advanced Nuclear Power Reactors. January 27, 2011.

Acessed at: http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf08.html

ATTACHMENT A

New Reactor Licensing Applications

(See attached PDF)