The Potential Utility of Grid Scale Transportable Nuclear Power Plants to Speed Up Replacement of Coastal Fossil Fired Power Plants

Abstract

The timely and efficient replacement of legacy coastal fossil fired power plants by grid-scale Small Modular Reactors (SMR), or other Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) technologies has a unique set of project challenges that must be addressed up-front in the planning of an energy project. Often, there is a desire to capitalize on existing infrastructure such as high-voltage rights-of-way and associated switchyards. In some cases, it may be possible to propose to re-use certain parts of the legacy fossil facility such as the turbine-generator island. However, land availability constraints may require the expedited removal of the remaining fossil plant systems, which can involve lengthy environmental approvals and site remediation before site preparation can begin for nuclear units.

Where sufficient site marine civil infrastructure is available or can be readily built up and the site conditions are determined to be suitable, a Grid Scale Transportable Nuclear Power Plant (TNPP) platform containing one or more SMRs can be placed in such a way as to allow for faster power station deployment while functionally separating the new build project from the project to decommission the fossil plant. This paper presents how this can be achieved and discusses how efficiencies to project deployment can be achieved while maintaining a superior level of safety and security.