The Changing Power Grid – NPP Flexible Plant Operations Sherry Bernhoft EPRI, Program Manager July 29, 2014

Nuclear Power Membership is Global U.S. Nuclear Power Plants Source: NEI Website, 2009 U.S. ParticipantsNon-U.S. Participants Global Breadth and Depth All U.S. nuclear owners/operators 100 reactors 20 countries, >220 reactors >75% of the world’s commercial nuclear units Participants encompass most nuclear reactor designs

Core Drivers Maximize the safe utilization of existing nuclear assets Long-term sustainability of nuclear energy Enable the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies

Today’s Power System The Grid CustomersGeneration

Looking Forward

Impacts of the Change Base Load Generation Load Following Generation + Bulk Energy Storage Bulk Energy Storage +/– Dispatchable = Customer Demand Interruptible Load – Forecastable More Variable Less Forecastable Less Dispatchable More Variable Less Forecastable Less Dispatchable Flexibility

Flexible Nuclear Power Plant Operation EPRI has formed a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) EPRI has formed a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Provide oversight and direction Provide oversight and direction Not all NPPs will need to consider Flexibility Not all NPPs will need to consider Flexibility International topic International topic Existing plants faced with ‘Large Scale Integration of Renewables’ Existing plants faced with ‘Large Scale Integration of Renewables’ Need to consider transition to flexible operations Need to consider transition to flexible operations Need to increase range of maneuverability Need to increase range of maneuverability New builds need to consider flexible operations since many will be a large load on a small grid New builds need to consider flexible operations since many will be a large load on a small grid Outcome – Proactive R&D Strategy to Manage Impacts of Flexible Operations

Renewable Portfolio Standard Policies / March states, + Washington DC and 2 territories,have Renewable Portfolio Standards (8 states and 2 territories have renewable portfolio goals). 29 states, + Washington DC and 2 territories,have Renewable Portfolio Standards (8 states and 2 territories have renewable portfolio goals).

Projected Impact on Net Generation 8,000 MW in 2 hours 6,300 MW in 2 hours 13,500 MW in 2 hours Illustrative Load, Wind, & Solar Profiles Net Load = Total Customer Load – (Wind + Solar Generation) Source: CAISO

Net Load Pattern Changes Source: CAISO

Modes of Flexible Operations Pre-planned and agreed upon down-powers: Pre-planned and agreed upon down-powers: Seasonal Seasonal Time-of-week Time-of-week Time-of-day Time-of-day Primary and secondary frequency response Primary and secondary frequency response 2-5% rated power/min within a limited band 2-5% rated power/min within a limited band Experience with both modes of operations Experience with both modes of operations Flexibility is possible… but do we understand the impacts?

Success Path For Integration of Renewables Early Engagement and Coordination amongst Key Stakeholders Early Engagement and Coordination amongst Key Stakeholders Planning and Phased Approached to Implantation Planning and Phased Approached to Implantation Recognize the ‘Paradigm’ Shift Recognize the ‘Paradigm’ Shift NPP Owner/Operator EPRI DOE INPO Owner Groups NRC NERC FERC OEM/NSSS Vendors Fuel Suppliers Transmission Grid Operator

NPP Flexible Plant Operations Project Overview Phase 1 – Gap Matrix Phase 2 – Define Current Plant Capabilities Phase 3 – Assess Increased Maneuverability Phase 4 – R&D for Long-Term Asset Management Planned Approach to Transition Nuclear Power Plants to Flexible Operations, Product

What We Have Learned… “Approach to Transition NPPs to Flexible Plant Operations” “Approach to Transition NPPs to Flexible Plant Operations” Need to establish protocol with the ISO Need to establish protocol with the ISO Plant modifications maybe needed Plant modifications maybe needed Challenges at end-of-cycle Challenges at end-of-cycle Xe transients Xe transients Li-control band Li-control band Volume of waste water generated Volume of waste water generated Protection of secondary components Protection of secondary components Accident and transient analysis Accident and transient analysis Changes are needed to operating procedures, maintenance programs and training Changes are needed to operating procedures, maintenance programs and training

Phase 4 – Long-Term Asset Management R&D 2014 Feasibility Study to develop an integrated monitoring system for: 2014 Feasibility Study to develop an integrated monitoring system for: High-cycle and low-cycle fatigue High-cycle and low-cycle fatigue Flow-induced vibration Flow-induced vibration Pump cavitations and valve chatter Pump cavitations and valve chatter 2015 & Beyond: 2015 & Beyond: Fuels management Fuels management Guidelines for asset management and monitoring Guidelines for asset management and monitoring Chemistry program enhancements Chemistry program enhancements Human performance improvements Human performance improvements Cost and value of being able to operate flexibly Cost and value of being able to operate flexibly Operating experience shows that there is a latency effect on system wear and tear.

Based on Input From Utility Advisors Projects planned for : Projects planned for : 1)Validation of fuel code and revision to GLs to ensure protection of fuel integrity 2)Research and revisions to the EPRI Water Chemistry GLs and FAC (Flow Assisted Corrosion) Program 3)Identification of vulnerable plant components and revision to the basis for plant maintenance, monitoring and inspection 4)Conceptual design for an integrated monitoring system 5)Establish a forum for Operating Experience exchange INPO is active with EPRI on planned projects INPO is active with EPRI on planned projects Owners Groups, IAEA and NSSS vendors invited to EPRI TAG meeting to support an integrated transition Owners Groups, IAEA and NSSS vendors invited to EPRI TAG meeting to support an integrated transition

Future Projects Design and pilot plant demonstration of the integrated monitoring system Design and pilot plant demonstration of the integrated monitoring system Human performance Human performance Improvements Improvements Evaluate: Evaluate: Cost of flexible operations Cost of flexible operations Value or benefit of being able to contribute to flexible operations Value or benefit of being able to contribute to flexible operations

Together…Shaping the Future of Electricity