Journal of Critical Infrastructure Policy
Introduction
This paper is about electric Grid resilience and how nuclear power ( embodied in a new type of nuclear power plant ) can play a major role in enhancing electric Grid resilience . 1 A brief overview of the Grid and the current role of nuclear power in the Grid is presented . The portfolio of natural hazards and malevolent human threats to the Grid is then summarized . A practical , near-consensus qualitative working definition of Grid resilience is presented . With this background context in view , the concept of a resilient Nuclear Power Plant ( rNPP ) is then introduced . The two Key Attributes and Six Functional Requirements of rNPPs are briefly presented .
The subject of resilient Critical Infrastructure Islands or “ rCIIs ” is discussed . rCIIs are the key to leveraging the resilience attributes of rNPPs to enhance the resilience of other electricity-dependent infrastructure . Next , the results of a preliminary assessment of the resilience attributes of five next generation Small Modular Reactors ( SMRs ) and Micro Modular Reactors ( MMRs ) is presented . The assessment , which is based on publicly available information ( corporate websites , publications or filings with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission ), is an evaluation of the extent to which each reactor is likely to achieve six rNPP Functional Requirements , and the extent to which it incorporates key enabling rNPP design features . The SMR and MMR survey results discussion is followed by a brief summary of the barriers and challenges to enhancing Grid and CI resilience with rNPPs and rCIIs . The final section identifies some near-term actions that could be taken by federal , state , and private Sector entities to strengthen Grid resilience .
This is an introduction to a complex and , at times , controversial subject . The paper ’ s intent is to inform and catalyze discussion in disciplines concerned with critical infrastructure resilience and public policy . Therefore , the paper contains a selective distillation and integration of information from a diverse range of knowledge domains . The scope is intentionally limited to the nexus of Grid resilience and nuclear power . In presenting relationships between a number of subjects , the discussion cites technical , economic , and regulatory issues that would benefit from book-length treatment . Experts in any one of the multiple subjects integrated into this discussion will no doubt be dissatisfied with the level of treatment afforded various topics . Citations and references are provided to assist those inclined to dig deeper .
What is the Grid ?
The Grid ( Figure 1 ) is a system of systems embodying some 7,700 electrical generating stations , ~ 700,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines , 56,000 substa-
1 The paper draws heavily on the author ’ s previous work in the areas of electric Grid resilience and nuclear power ( Greene 2016 , Greene 2017 , Greene 2018a-d ). Several foundational concepts developed in prior work are briefly summarized as context for examination of the ongoing evolution of nuclear power plant design — particularly that of Small Modular Reactors ( SMRs ) and Micro Modular Reactors ( MMRs ).
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