Photo: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

PITTSBURGH - April 27, 2010

Westinghouse Electric Company LLC today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with leading Polish energy provider Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) to collaborate on delivering the AP1000™ nuclear power plant in response to Poland's initiatives for nuclear capacity.

Under the agreement, Westinghouse and PGE will jointly study the feasibility of building new nuclear reactors in Poland based on the AP1000™, the world's most advanced and mature Generation III+ design, which includes innovative features such as modular construction, advanced passive safety systems, and a solid portfolio of construction projects that are currently on time and within budget.

Bob Pearce, Director, International Project Development, says that the agreement with PGE is an important step in offering Poland a genuine solution to the country's most challenging energy issues.
"We welcome the opportunity to partner with PGE in supporting Poland's nuclear energy program, and look forward to collaborating on meeting their economic and energy priorities. With Poland's need to reduce its carbon footprint by 2020, nuclear energy and the AP1000 PWR are the right solutions for providing reliable baseload electricity that is sensitive to the needs of the environment."

Pearce adds that Westinghouse is committed to building long-term partnerships in Poland.
"The AP1000 PWR provides a greater opportunity for localization of supply for these projects, resulting in jobs and long-term economic benefits for the people of Poland. We welcome the opportunity to develop a clean, reliable, and secure energy source utilizing the significant skills of the Polish people."

Photo: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

The AP1000 PWR design is certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the only Generation III+ reactor to receive such certification.
Additionally, the European Utility Requirements (EUR) organization certified that the AP1000 PWR is compliant with its requirements, confirming that the AP1000 PWR can be successfully deployed in Europe.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has also issued an assessment stating that the AP1000 PWR is compliant with IAEA safety standards and objectives.

In addition to four AP1000 plants that the Westinghouse/Shaw Consortium is providing in China, Westinghouse and the AP1000 PWR have been identified as the supplier and technology of choice for no less than 14 plants that have been announced in the United States, including six for which engineering, procurement and construction contracts have been signed.
Additionally, Westinghouse and China are currently in discussion on plans for additional AP1000 plants to be sited inland of China's coastal areas.

AP1000 1 – Fuel Handling Area, 2 – Concrete Shield Building, 3 – Steel Containment, 4 – Passive Containment Cooling Water Tank, 5 – Steam Generators, 6 – Reactor Coolant Pumps, 7 – Reactor, 8 – Integrated Head Package, 9 – Pressurizer, 10 – Main Control Room, 11 – Feedwater Pumps, 12 – Turbine Generator. Photo: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

Westinghouse believes the AP1000 PWR is ideally suited for the worldwide nuclear power marketplace.

The AP1000 PWR is:

• Based on standard Westinghouse pressurized water reactor technology that has achieved more than 2,500 reactor years of highly successful operation

• An 1110MWe design that is ideal for providing baseload generating capacity and fits within the existing design of the Polish electrical grid

• Modular in design, promoting ready standardization and high construction quality

• Economical to construct and maintain (less concrete and steel and fewer components and systems mean there is less to install, inspect and maintain)

• Designed to promote ease of operation (features most advanced instrumentation and control systems (I&C) in the industry).


For more information about the Westinghouse AP1000, visit its Web site at

www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com  


Westinghouse Electric Company LLC, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY:6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world.

Westinghouse supplied the world’s first PWR in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa.
Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants, including 60 percent of those in the United States.

SOURCE Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

http://westinghousenuclear.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=223  

AP1000 at a Glance

Westinghouse Electric Company once again sets a new industry standard with the AP1000™ reactor.
Historically, Westinghouse plant designs and technology have forged the cutting edge of worldwide nuclear technology.
Today, about 50 percent of the world's 440 nuclear plants are based on Westinghouse technology.

The AP1000 is the safest and most economical nuclear power plant available in the worldwide commercial marketplace, and is the only Generation III+ reactor to receive Design Certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

The AP1000 features proven technology, innovative passive safety systems and offers:

• Unequaled safety

• Economic competitiveness

• Improved and more efficient operations


The AP1000 builds and improves upon the established technology of major components used in current Westinghouse-designed plants with proven, reliable operating experience over the past 50 years.
These components include:

• Steam generators

• Digital instrumentation and controls

• Fuel

• Pressurizers

• Reactor vessels


Simplification was a major design objective for the AP1000.
The simplified plant design includes overall safety systems, normal operating systems, the control room, construction techniques, and instrumentation and control systems.
The result is a plant that is easier and less expensive to build, operate and maintain.

AP1000 Photo: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

The AP1000 design saves money and time with an accelerated construction time period of approximately 36 months, from the pouring of first concrete to the loading of fuel.
Also, the innovative AP1000 features:

• 50% fewer safety-related valves

• 80% less safety-related piping

• 85% less control cable

• 35% fewer pumps

• 45% less seismic building volume

http://www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com/ap1000_glance.html  

Economic Competitiveness

Two of the drivers of plant construction costs are the cost of financing during the construction phase and the substantial amount of skilled-craft-labor hours needed on site during construction.
The AP1000™ technique of modularization of plant construction mitigates both of these drivers.


Overnight construction costs


The AP1000 was designed to reduce capital costs and to be economically competitive with contemporary fossil-fueled plants.
The amount of safety-grade equipment required is greatly reduced by using the passive safety system design.

Consequently, less Seismic Category I building volume is required to house the safety equipment (approximately 45 percent less than a typical reactor).

Photo: Westinghouse Electric Company LLC

Modular construction design further reduces cost and shortens the construction schedule. Using advanced computer modeling capabilities, Westinghouse is able to optimize, choreograph and simulate the construction plan.
The result is very high confidence in the construction schedule.


Simplified plant arrangement


With a smaller footprint than an existing nuclear power plant with the same generating capability, the AP1000 plant arrangement provides separation between safety-related and non-safety related systems.

The plant is arranged with the following principal structures, each on its own base mat:

• Nuclear Island (the only Seismic Category I structure)

• Turbine Building

• Annex Building

• Diesel Generator Building

• Radwaste Building


Nuclear Island


The volume of these seismic buildings is much smaller than those in previous nuclear power plant designs.
This provides a large capital cost savings since seismic structures cost roughly three times as much as non-seismic structures.
The nuclear island is designed to withstand the effects of postulated internal events such as fires and flooding without loss of capability to perform safety functions.


Non-Seismic Class 1 Buildings


The non-seismic buildings include the annex, turbine diesel generator and radwaste buildings, and contain no safety-related equipment.
They are designed for wind and seismic loads in accordance with the Uniform Building Code.

http://www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com/ap1000_ec.html