Long Term Operation of Nuclear Power Plants

A nuclear power plant represents a considerable investment. So it's natural to want to operate it for as long as possible. But what's to stop that happening if the plant is well operated and maintained?

The factors influencing the management of uptime are highly varied. The most immediate are of a technical nature, and concern control of the physical ageing of components, whether replaceable or not. This requires forecasting and anticipation capabilities, which in turn are based on an understanding of the phenomena involved. It also requires optimized operating methods and maintenance strategies. Other factors are less "material" in nature, involving the economy, industrial policy, regulations, human resources, public opinion and so on.

On the face of it, there are no major obstacles to the operation of French nuclear power plants for 40 years or more. On the other hand, threats do exist, and we need to adopt appropriate strategies to deal with them. This long-term concern needs to be integrated as early as possible, since only safe, clean, efficient and competitive day-to-day operation can guarantee a long life for a nuclear power plant.

Note: the term "operating life" refers to the length of time a plant is capable of generating electricity; "lifetime" also includes construction and decommissioning periods.