Increased Capacity
Increased nuclear capacity in some countries is resulting from the uprating of existing plants. This is a highly cost-effective way of bringing on new capacity in the nuclear industry.
Numerous power reactors in the USA, Switzerland, Spain, Finland, and Sweden, for example, have had their generating capacity increased.
In the USA, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved about 165 uprates totalling over 7500 MWe since 1977, a few of them 'extended uprates' of up to 20%.
In Switzerland, all operating reactors have had uprates, increasing capacity by 13.4%.
Spain has had a programme to add 810 MWe (11%) to its nuclear capacity through upgrading its nine reactors by up to 13%. Most of the increase is already in place. For instance, the Almaraz nuclear plant was boosted by 7.4% at a cost of $50 million.
Finland boosted the capacity of the original Olkiluoto NPP by 29% to 1700 MWe. This plant started with two 660 MWe Swedish BWRs commissioned in 1978 and 1980. The Loviisa NPP, with two VVER-440 reactors, has been uprated by 90 MWe (18%).
Sweden's utilities have upgraded three plants. The Ringhals NPP was uprated by about 305 MWe over 2006-14. Oskarshamn 3 was uprated by 21% to 1450 MWe at a cost of €313 million. Forsmark 2 had a 120 MWe uprate (12%) to 2013.
