Integrated Operation for Nuclear (ION)
Goal
Achieve light water reactor fleet electric market competitiveness by transforming the nuclear business model through a top-down, business-driven transformation process, achieved through three primary activities:
- Identify and validate performance capabilities and work reduction opportunities necessary to achieve cost competitiveness.
- Develop the process to evaluate the appropriate technology, process, and/or governance change needed to achieve a cost-competitive business model.
- Engage stakeholders to validate guidelines for implementation.
Outcome
Research is being conducted with owner-operators to develop and deploy an advanced concept of operations for nuclear power plants. It employs restructuring plant processes and existing technologies to reduce operating costs using advanced technologies and a more technology-enabled staff. Critical to this approach is advanced digital technologies. The adoption of an advanced concept of operations will enable us to restructure the nuclear power plant operating model, resulting in new and more efficient ways of working. This model, Integrated Operations for Nuclear (ION), uses plant-specific market analysis to identify goals for operation and management costs and a plant capacity factor needed for long-term commercial viability. A plant or organization-specific transformation strategy is developed to identify needed technology and process modifications, including goals for staffing and qualifications to achieve the targeted sustainability goals. Also provided are improved methods for achieving plant safety margins, reductions in unnecessary conservatism and approaches to best use expertise from across the nuclear enterprise.
Planned major accomplishments
- Develop an industry-transferable process for significant nuclear work function innovation based on integrated operations concepts.
- Develop a methodology tool set for nuclear work function innovation based on macro ergonomics systems approaches and solutions.
- Develop advanced concepts in digital remote collaboration to enable virtual organizations to conduct nuclear plant work functions seamlessly with the on-site staff.
- Develop a technology integration roadmap that maximizes nuclear plant performance improvement and cost reduction in plant control and monitoring, work activity automation, worker efficiency, human performance, risk management, and operational decision-making, through the synergistic combination of advanced digital technologies.
