The Babcock & Wilcox Co. reports it has a contract from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to design and manufacture two steam generators for the Bellefonte Unit 1 Plant, as a part of TVA’s plan to update and complete its nuclear power plant at Hollywood, AL.
In August the TVA board of directors authorized $248 million to continue development of Bellefonte Unit 1, a 1,256-MWe pressurized water reactor (one of two at the site) that Babcock & Wilcox designed and which was close to 90% completed when TVA suspended the development in 1988 after an investment estimated at $6 billion.
The recent decision by TVA covers engineering, licensing, and procurement of materials in support of a possible start-up date later this decade — “in the 2018-2019 timeframe,” according to one report. TVA decided to complete its Integrated Resource Plan before deciding to complete construction of Bellefonte Unit 1.
Earlier this month TVA contracted Areva to conduct engineering and development work for the Bellefonte completion project. Both B&W and Areva are designers of nuclear power systems.
“B&W has a long history at Bellefonte, and we are very pleased that TVA selected our steam generator technology to complement the B&W-designed reactor at the plant,” stated B&W Nuclear Energy Inc. president Chris Mowry. “With over 50 years of experience in nuclear engineering, manufacturing and service, B&W is confident that this project will be successful in helping TVA maintain its commitment to providing clean electricity to its service area.”
The value of B&W’s new contract is not known. The “once through” steam generators will be designed and manufactured by B&W Canada in Cambridge, Ont., and delivered to the Alabama site in 2015, pending the TVA decision to complete construction. B&W Canada has designed and manufactured more than 300 nuclear steam generators.
Each of the two steam generators will weigh approximately 500 tons. They are designed to produce superheated steam that will drive the turbines to generate electricity.
