Post on 11-Jul-2020
© 2019 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Reliable Long Term Electricity Supply and the Role of Nuclear Energy Budapest, Hungary - 25 January 2019
FLEXIBILITY OF NUCLEAR POWER IN A
CLEAN ENERGY SYSTEM
William D. Magwood, IV Director-General
Nuclear Energy Agency
2019 IEA WS on Nuclear Power 25 February 2019
© 2019 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Ongoing NEA Work on Electricity Supply NEA publications
2012
2015
2015
2018
8
2019
2018
© 2019 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development © 2018 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Source: OECD/IEA WEO 2018
Increased Flexibility Needs Due to VREs Penetration
© 2019 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
10% Variable Renewables 75% Variable Renewables
• High VRE penetration result in challenges for system management.
• Residual demand (BLUE line) – the available market for dispatchable generation becomes
volatile and unpredictable.
High VRE Result in Large Inefficiencies
Annual Excess production = 37%
Hours
Hours
13
© 2019 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Nuclear power plants are flexible
Courtesy of Électricité de France (EDF)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
11/07/2008 30/08/2008 19/10/2008 08/12/2008 27/01/2009 18/03/2009 07/05/2009 26/06/2009 15/08/2009
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
18/12/2008 19/12/2008 20/12/2008 21/12/2008 22/12/2008 23/12/2008 24/12/2008 25/12/2008 26/12/2008 27/12/2008
Courtesy of Électricité de France (EDF)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
11/07/2008 30/08/2008 19/10/2008 08/12/2008 27/01/2009 18/03/2009 07/05/2009 26/06/2009 15/08/2009
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
18/12/2008 19/12/2008 20/12/2008 21/12/2008 22/12/2008 23/12/2008 24/12/2008 25/12/2008 26/12/2008 27/12/2008
Power history of a French PWR reactor
Whole cycle 10-day period around Christmas
Source: EDF and OECD/NEA
© 2019 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development © 2018 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Attribute Sub-Attribute Benefits
Operational Flexibility
Maneuverability Load following Compatibility with Hybrid
Energy Systems and Polygeneration
Economic operation with increasing penetration of intermittent generation, alternative missions
Diversified Fuel Use Economics and security of fuel supply
Island Operation System resiliency, remote power, micro-grid,
emergency power applications
Deployment Flexibility
Scalability Ability to deploy at scale needed
Siting Ability to deploy where needed
Constructability Ability to deploy on schedule and on budget
Product Flexibility
Electricity Reliable, dispatchable power supply
Industrial Heat Reliable, dispatchable process heat supply
District Heating Reliable, dispatchable district heating supply
Desalination Reliable, dispatchable fresh water supply
Hydrogen Reliable, dispatchable hydrogen supply
Radioisotopes Unique or high demand isotopes supply
Expanded Concept of Flexibility for Nuclear Generation
Source: Adapted from EPRI
© 2019 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Considerations
VREs and nuclear energy are the only expandable sources of low-carbon electricity
VRE shares beyond 30-40% lead to significant system costs and require grid technologies that do not exist today
Larger shares of VREs also will require flexible nuclear generation
— Which is happening today in several countries — Which can be expanded through deployment of advanced technologies
such as SMRs — But does it make economic sense in most markets?
26
© 2019 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development © 2018 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 8
Thank you for your attention
Follow the NEA