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Taishan proved you can build EPRs near cost and time estimates. EDF has promised a simplified design for the EPR2 (after learning from 20 years of mistakes) but

Taishan proved you can build EPRs near cost and time estimates. EDF has promised a simplified design for the EPR2 (after learning from 20 years of mistakes) but it's probably not going to fix the sad state of our nuclear industry in Europe, suffering from a lot of internal and external inefficiencies.

distances 4y ago
I have no proof, but I have a strong feeling that the Chinese nuclear safety authority isn't nowhere near as picky as the Finnish counterpart. Lots of the delays were caused by orders to rebuild after failed quality checks from the authorities.
- hocuspocus 4y ago
  Certainly, but this is mostly a self-inflicted problem in the EU. Everything that is procured through a public tender gets done by the lowest bidder.
  - Gwypaas 4y ago
    Olkiluoto 3 is built by a private company to provide power for a consortium of industry companies, no lowest bidder in sight. Still the same issue though, wonder if it's nuclear that is hard or public procurement? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teollisuuden_Voima https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teollisuuden_Voima
    - hocuspocus 4y ago
      From what I read about the EPR fiasco in France, Finland and the UK, there are always many contractors and subcontractors involved. Some delays were due to a real lack or loss of industrial knowledge and tooling (many components of the EPR are considerably larger than those of previous reactor designs) which can explain poor procurement choice, others are more easily explained by construction companies that were just not up to the task, when it's "just" faulty concrete or welding.
      - doikor 4y ago
        > when it's "just" faulty concrete or welding. In Finland during construction the local nuclear safety company found reinforced concrete that had 0 rebar in it etc forcing a lot of stuff to be redone due to someone trying to cut expenses. Though those issues happened a long time ago. The recent delays are mostly issues with the automation systems and the turbine (both subcontracted to Siemens by Areva). But yeah a lot of the issues are the "nobody has ever done this before". The steam turbine used by these plants is literally the largest ever built.

distances 4y ago

I have no proof, but I have a strong feeling that the Chinese nuclear safety authority isn't nowhere near as picky as the Finnish counterpart. Lots of the delays were caused by orders to rebuild after failed quality checks from the authorities.

hocuspocus 4y ago
Certainly, but this is mostly a self-inflicted problem in the EU. Everything that is procured through a public tender gets done by the lowest bidder.
- Gwypaas 4y ago
  Olkiluoto 3 is built by a private company to provide power for a consortium of industry companies, no lowest bidder in sight. Still the same issue though, wonder if it's nuclear that is hard or public procurement? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teollisuuden_Voima https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teollisuuden_Voima
  - hocuspocus 4y ago
    From what I read about the EPR fiasco in France, Finland and the UK, there are always many contractors and subcontractors involved. Some delays were due to a real lack or loss of industrial knowledge and tooling (many components of the EPR are considerably larger than those of previous reactor designs) which can explain poor procurement choice, others are more easily explained by construction companies that were just not up to the task, when it's "just" faulty concrete or welding.
    - doikor 4y ago
      > when it's "just" faulty concrete or welding. In Finland during construction the local nuclear safety company found reinforced concrete that had 0 rebar in it etc forcing a lot of stuff to be redone due to someone trying to cut expenses. Though those issues happened a long time ago. The recent delays are mostly issues with the automation systems and the turbine (both subcontracted to Siemens by Areva). But yeah a lot of the issues are the "nobody has ever done this before". The steam turbine used by these plants is literally the largest ever built.