10 Sept (NucNet): Exelon Nuclear Partners (ENP), a division of nuclear operator Exelon Generation, has signed agreements with GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy and Westinghouse/Toshiba to provide its operational know-how as the teams pursue reactor construction deals in Saudi Arabia, GEH and Westinghouse said yesterday.
GEH and Westinghouse/Toshiba said Saudi Arabia plans to construct as many as 16 nuclear power reactors by 2032. The companies said they and ENP will pursue orders for the companies’ respective advanced reactor designs.
GEH said it will pursue orders with ENP for its BWR technology, the 1,300-megawatt advanced boiling water reactor and the 1,500-MW Economic Simplified BWR.
Westinghouse said it and majority owner Toshiba will pursue orders with ENP for Westinghouse’s advanced pressurised water reactor, the 1,100-MW-class AP1000.
The companies’ customer would be King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, the government body established in April 2010 to develop alternative energy sources to oil.
GEH said reactor construction in Saudi Arabia is expected to begin in 2017, with the first reactor beginning commercial operation in 2025 and the final unit in 2032.
Exelon is the largest nuclear fleet operator in the US. It operates 17 reactors and has a management contract for Fort Calhoun-1 PWR.
