Nuclear Power Plant Start-Up Time

Nuclear Power Plant Start-Up Time

Nuclear technology derives its energy from the process of splitting atoms of
individual elements. The first commercial nuclear power station commenced its operation in
the 1950s. The number of nuclear power reactors is estimated to be 440 spread in thirty-one
countries with a total electricity capacity exceeding 380,000 megawatts. Nuclear power
plants produce over eleven percent of the world’s electricity. Time is an important aspect in
the construction of nuclear power plants. Additionally, other aspects of significance include
the location of the facility which incorporates geographical dynamics and safety elements.
Much time is needed for the start-up of a nuclear power plant. The complexity
involved when constructing such facilities justifies the long period taken to build such plants
in comparison to other power plants. The typical time taken to build a large nuclear power
station is estimated to be five to seven years. This excludes the time needed for planning
purposes and licensing procedures. Countries differ in the time taken to construct nuclear
plants. For example, in China and South Korea, the construction period may range from four
to six years while in European countries, the development time is a bit longer estimated to
take which is between six and eight years. This extended period may be compared to the
construction of large coal plants which takes approximately four years to complete while for
natural gas-fired power stations, the construction period is about three years
(https://www.oecd-nea.org/news/press-kits/economics-FAQ.html).
Some factors have to be taken into consideration concerning the location of a nuclear
plant. Different countries have set out factors that determine the site of a nuclear power station through the national nuclear energy policy which provides guidelines on various
components of nuclear power. For example, nuclear fuel mining, nuclear fuel extraction, and
processing of the ores, generation of electricity by nuclear power, nuclear fuel enrichment
and storage and finally the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. Policies on nuclear energy focus on
the energy use and standards regulation concerning the nuclear fuel cycle.
Geographical aspects should be taken into consideration when determining the
location of a nuclear plant. The site of the facility should have minimal impact on the
environment. In the case of an accident, the location should allow for minimal, or none of the
radioactive material is released to the public. Tolerable limits should be achieved on the
impacts of the cooling towers on the microclimate. The aquatic life should not be affected by
the large volumes of heat release. Characteristics of the site should offer minimal impacts in
case of an accident. Hydrology, geology, seismology and grid infrastructure are the primary
parameters that have to be taken into consideration. The proximity to a large water body is
mandatory especially for the commercial reactors that use water for cooling.
Safety considerations are inevitable when initiating a nuclear power plant. Countries
have to consider security issues that will determine their capability to operate a nuclear power
plant. The various geographical features of a country have to be carefully studied including,
geology, hydrology, and seismology (http://www.cfr.org/world/nuclear-power-safety-
concerns/p10534). Earthquakes are the biggest safety concern for nuclear power plants. An
example is the Fukushima accident which resulted out of a major earthquake leading to the
disruption of the power supply and cooling of three reactors.
The other safety concern focuses on political instability. A nuclear power plant is not
safe for construction in countries with political instability as it may be a target for terror
groups. Irresponsible countries may initiate the development of nuclear weapons with evil
intentions. The final element on the issue of safety concerns the location of nuclear plants.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers the air in a ten-mile radius to be unsafe for
breathing in case of a catastrophe while food and water supplies are considered dangerous in
a fifty-mile radius. It’s mandatory to place nuclear power plants far away from populated
areas. This may be a safety concern for densely populated countries with intentions of
installing nuclear facilities. The nuclear waste material should be properly disposed to avoid
contamination of water bodies (http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-
profiles/others/emerging-nuclear-energy-countries.aspx).
The financial aspects of constructing nuclear plants are rarely revealed to the public
due commercial sensitivity of such information. However, the typical amount incurred in the
construction of a Generation III reactor (1400 to 1800 Megawatts) in OECD countries is
approximated to range between US dollars five to six billion. The cost of reactors is relatively
small in non-OECD countries such as China (https://www.oecd-nea.org/).
In countries with nuclear plants, there is a stringent regulation by the government. For
example, in the USA, the Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) is in charge of vital constituents
targeting safety of the reactors. Some of the regulatory activities conducted by NRR include
making of rules, issuance of licenses, oversight authority, responding to incidences, testing
reactors to ensure proper functionality (http://www.nrc.gov/about
nrc/organization/nrrfuncdesc.html).
In conclusion, nuclear energy has many advantages as compared to other forms of
generating electricity. It is environmentally friendly and competitive compared to other
power sources. It also safeguards against the volatile costs of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide.
The distribution of uranium resources throughout the world justifies the supply security
offered by nuclear energy. Additionally, nuclear fuel is easily stored. These advantages
weight into the need of adopting nuclear power.

Nuclear Power Plant Start-Up Time

Nuclear technology derives its energy from the process of splitting atoms of
individual elements. The first commercial nuclear power station commenced its operation in
the 1950s. The number of nuclear power reactors is estimated to be 440 spread in thirty-one
countries with a total electricity capacity exceeding 380,000 megawatts. Nuclear power
plants produce over eleven percent of the world’s electricity. Time is an important aspect in
the construction of nuclear power plants. Additionally, other aspects of significance include
the location of the facility which incorporates geographical dynamics and safety elements.
Much time is needed for the start-up of a nuclear power plant. The complexity
involved when constructing such facilities justifies the long period taken to build such plants
in comparison to other power plants. The typical time taken to build a large nuclear power
station is estimated to be five to seven years. This excludes the time needed for planning
purposes and licensing procedures. Countries differ in the time taken to construct nuclear
plants. For example, in China and South Korea, the construction period may range from four
to six years while in European countries, the development time is a bit longer estimated to
take which is between six and eight years. This extended period may be compared to the
construction of large coal plants which takes approximately four years to complete while for
natural gas-fired power stations, the construction period is about three years
(https://www.oecd-nea.org/news/press-kits/economics-FAQ.html).
Some factors have to be taken into consideration concerning the location of a nuclear
plant. Different countries have set out factors that determine the site of a nuclear power station through the national nuclear energy policy which provides guidelines on various
components of nuclear power. For example, nuclear fuel mining, nuclear fuel extraction, and
processing of the ores, generation of electricity by nuclear power, nuclear fuel enrichment
and storage and finally the reprocessing of nuclear fuel. Policies on nuclear energy focus on
the energy use and standards regulation concerning the nuclear fuel cycle.
Geographical aspects should be taken into consideration when determining the
location of a nuclear plant. The site of the facility should have minimal impact on the
environment. In the case of an accident, the location should allow for minimal, or none of the
radioactive material is released to the public. Tolerable limits should be achieved on the
impacts of the cooling towers on the microclimate. The aquatic life should not be affected by
the large volumes of heat release. Characteristics of the site should offer minimal impacts in
case of an accident. Hydrology, geology, seismology and grid infrastructure are the primary
parameters that have to be taken into consideration. The proximity to a large water body is
mandatory especially for the commercial reactors that use water for cooling.
Safety considerations are inevitable when initiating a nuclear power plant. Countries
have to consider security issues that will determine their capability to operate a nuclear power
plant. The various geographical features of a country have to be carefully studied including,
geology, hydrology, and seismology (http://www.cfr.org/world/nuclear-power-safety-
concerns/p10534). Earthquakes are the biggest safety concern for nuclear power plants. An
example is the Fukushima accident which resulted out of a major earthquake leading to the
disruption of the power supply and cooling of three reactors.
The other safety concern focuses on political instability. A nuclear power plant is not
safe for construction in countries with political instability as it may be a target for terror
groups. Irresponsible countries may initiate the development of nuclear weapons with evil
intentions. The final element on the issue of safety concerns the location of nuclear plants.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission considers the air in a ten-mile radius to be unsafe for
breathing in case of a catastrophe while food and water supplies are considered dangerous in
a fifty-mile radius. It’s mandatory to place nuclear power plants far away from populated
areas. This may be a safety concern for densely populated countries with intentions of
installing nuclear facilities. The nuclear waste material should be properly disposed to avoid
contamination of water bodies (http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-
profiles/others/emerging-nuclear-energy-countries.aspx).
The financial aspects of constructing nuclear plants are rarely revealed to the public
due commercial sensitivity of such information. However, the typical amount incurred in the
construction of a Generation III reactor (1400 to 1800 Megawatts) in OECD countries is
approximated to range between US dollars five to six billion. The cost of reactors is relatively
small in non-OECD countries such as China (https://www.oecd-nea.org/).
In countries with nuclear plants, there is a stringent regulation by the government. For
example, in the USA, the Nuclear Reactor Regulation (NRR) is in charge of vital constituents
targeting safety of the reactors. Some of the regulatory activities conducted by NRR include
making of rules, issuance of licenses, oversight authority, responding to incidences, testing
reactors to ensure proper functionality (http://www.nrc.gov/about
nrc/organization/nrrfuncdesc.html).
In conclusion, nuclear energy has many advantages as compared to other forms of
generating electricity. It is environmentally friendly and competitive compared to other
power sources. It also safeguards against the volatile costs of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide.
The distribution of uranium resources throughout the world justifies the supply security
offered by nuclear energy. Additionally, nuclear fuel is easily stored. These advantages
weight into the need of adopting nuclear power.