The nuclear nine

The 3.8 km2 Sellafield site on the Cumbrian coast produces nuclear fuel for electricity as well as stores nuclear waste from several countries a
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Nuclear power accounted for one third of the electricity that E.ON produced in 2007. With availability factors of over 90%, it claims its nuclear power stations are among the most reliable and productive. In a 2007 generating capacity ranking of the 439 operating nuclear power plants worldwide, E.ON nuclear power plants Brokdorf, Isar 2 and Grohnde occupied places two, three and seven respectively.

Since summer 2008 nuclear energy has also been part of E.ON’s technology initiative innovate.on. The objective is to advance the cutting-edge 1,250 MW boiling water reactor (BWR) in cooperation with French firm Areva.

In 2008 the majority of E.ON’s total demand for uranium was covered by natural uranium from Canada and Russia, which was enriched in Europe and Russia, and by EUP (Enriched Uranium Product) from Kazakhstan. In addition, it has an inventory of natural uranium originating from Canada, Namibia, Niger, Ukraine and USA.

MITSUBISHI

Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems is a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and a manufacturer of nuclear power plants and replacement components. It is a fully integrated nuclear power plant and steam generator supplier which provides planning design, manufacturing, construction and plant maintenance.

 The firm constructed the first nuclear power plant in Japan using pressurised water reactor (PWR) technology in 1970. PWR technology is now used in two thirds of nuclear power plants .

Mitsubishi is currently working on its next generation plants, the Tsuruga 3 and Tsuruga 4 which use APWR technology. These are scheduled to be operational by 2014 and will have over 1,500MW of output. They will be able to produce 30% more total energy than a conventional 4-loop plant.

The basic design of the firm’s PWR plants is described simply as using pressurised water as the cooler reactant and separating the reactor and turbine systems by steam generators in an indirect cycle system.

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Westinghouse Electric Company provides fuel, services, technology, plant design, and equipment for the commercial nuclear electric power industry.

The nuclear service branch of the company offers field services, including complete outage support, advanced products, nuclear power plant component services, and training. It also offers engineering services, helping plants improve reliability and sustain regulatory compliance. Repair, replacement and automations services are also offered.

Westinghouse offers fuel products to its customers and also fuel analysis, services and software products. The main division of the company is the nuclear power plants branch.

Which develops customer-driven technology for modern nuclear power plants and manufactures specialised nuclear components of stainless and high-alloy steels for the nuclear power industry.