Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2008-0667-0623
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2011-04-20T04:00Z

MEMORANDUM

Tetra Tech, Inc.
10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340
Fairfax, VA 22030
phone	703-385-6000
fax	703-385-6007

DATE: 		August 2, 2010 

TO:			Paul Shriner, EPA
	
FROM:		Kelly Meadows, Tetra Tech

SUBJECT:	Nuclear uprate schedule

As requested, we have examined existing information on uprates at nuclear facilities.  As shown in the attached fact sheet from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), there are three types of uprate: measurement uncertainty (MU), stretch (S) and extended (E).  The increases in generating capacity associated with these uprates are less than 2%, 2-7% and up to 20% respectively.  Given these increases in capacity, it is possible that uprates could be used to offset some or all of the capacity lost to the energy penalty from retrofitting to closed-cycle cooling.

Table 1 below summarizes the projected uprates in the coming years, as provided by NRC data.  Table 2 shows a summary of how many facilities have undertaken each type of uprate in the past.

Table 1. Scheduled Nuclear Uprates
                                  Fiscal Year
                              Total Power Uprates
                Measurement Uncertainty Recapture Power Uprates
                             Stretch Power Uprates
                            Extended Power Uprates
                               Megawatts Thermal
                        Approximate Megawatts Electric
                                                                           2010
                                                                              4
                                                                              0
                                                                              0
                                                                              4
                                                                           1518
                                                                            506
                                                                           2011
                                                                             17
                                                                             13
                                                                              0
                                                                              4
                                                                           1624
                                                                            541
                                                                           2012
                                                                             10
                                                                              5
                                                                              1
                                                                              4
                                                                           2008
                                                                            669
                                                                           2013
                                                                              5
                                                                              3
                                                                              0
                                                                              2
                                                                            830
                                                                            277
                                                                           2014
                                                                              4
                                                                              1
                                                                              0
                                                                              3
                                                                           1218
                                                                            406
TOTAL
                                                                             40
                                                                             22
                                                                              1
                                                                             17
                                                                           7198
                                                                           2399
Source: NRC fact sheet, February 2008.

Table 2. Summary of Past Nuclear Uprates
                                   Category
                             Number of Facilities
                           Percentage of Facilities
                          Average % Gain From Uprate
Total nuclear facilities in regulated universe
                                                                             62

                                                                               
Undertaken an uprate of any type
                                                                             57
                                                                         91.94%
                                                                               
Undertaken an MU uprate
                                                                             27
                                                                         43.55%
                                                                          1.49%
Undertaken an S uprate
                                                                             37
                                                                         59.68%
                                                                          4.51%
Undertaken an E uprate
                                                                             14
                                                                         22.58%
                                                                         13.40%
Source: NRC fact sheet, February 2008.