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US DoE seeks bids for $6 billion nuclear credit
USA Nuclear power
The US Department of Energy has announced plans to seek applications and sealed bid submissions under the $6 billion Civil Nuclear Credit Programme to support the continued operation of US nuclear reactors, the country’s largest source of ‘clean’ energy. The DoE has published guidance which shows owners or operators of nuclear power reactors that are expected to shut down due to economic circumstances, how to apply for funding to avoid premature closure. This includes instructions on formulating and submitting sealed bids for allocation of credits. This investment, made possible by president Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, is intended to help avoid premature retirements of reactors across the country due to financial
hardship and protect the country’s supply of carbon-free electricity generation. “Nuclear power plants contribute more than half of our carbon-free electricity, and president Biden is committed to keeping these plants active to reach our clean energy goals,” stated US secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “We’re using every tool available to get this country powered by clean energy by 2035, and that includes prioritising our existing nuclear fleet to allow for continued emissions- free electricity generation and economic stability for the communities leading this important work.”
Shifting energy markets and other economic factors have resulted in the early closure of 12 commercial reactors across the United States since 2013. This is considered to have led to a
rise in emissions in those regions, poorer air quality, the loss of thousands of high-paying jobs, essential employers and financial contributors to local communities. As urged by many public commenters during the Request for Information (RFI) period earlier this year, the first CNC award cycle will prioritise reactors that have already announced their intention to cease operations. Future CNC award cycles – including for the second to be launched in the first quarter in FY2023 – will not be limited to nuclear reactors that have publicly announced their intention to retire.
For the first CNC award period, DOE is accepting certification applications and bids as a single submission to implement the programme on a more rapid timeline.
Hydrogen retrofit for Rotterdam Capelle The Netherlands H2 power
Thomassen Energy is to retrofit one of Uniper’s Rotterdam Capelle (RoCa) power plant’s gas turbines with its HyFlex LEC-III combustion system, which can be operated with a variable blend of hydrogen and natural gas fuel. The power plant, which is located in the Zuid-Holland province of The Netherlands, has a net electrical output of 264 MW. It has two Frame 5 gas turbines commissioned in 1983 (RoCa 1 & 2) and one Frame 9E (at RoCa 3, pictured), manufactured by Thomassen and commissioned in 1996. Uniper is planning to switch the RoCa plant’s fuel source
from Groningen natural gas to a high caloric gas supply in 2023. To support their aimed at gas-fired power decarbonisation objectives, Uniper anticipates blending the new gas supply with upwards of 30% H2
. When
installed into the RoCa3 Frame 9E turbine in early 2023, Thomassen’s HyFlex LEC-III™ combustion retrofit system, (developed jointly with their sister company PSM, based in the USA), should be capable of meeting this enhanced fuel flexibility requirement with ultra-low emissions when coupled with the delivery of the combustion AutoTune digital solution. Peter Stuttaford, CEO of Thomassen Energy: “Our H2
fuel-flex retrofit solution
selected by Uniper for RoCa3 has been operating successfully on three Frame 9E turbines in the Netherlands at another customer location since 2018 with hydrogen (up to 35% H2
demonstrated) fuel blending.
Having retrofit options for the installed fleet of gas turbines today, which will ultimately allow operational flexibility with 0 – 100% H2
, will provide clean, carbon free, firming capacity”.
Above: HyFlex combustor Below: RoCa3 power plant
8 | May 2022 |
www.modernpowersystems.com
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