The scope of the construction and commissioning strategic element is to develop guidance for effectively managing construction contract companies, personnel, and project tools to support construction activities, logistics, construction equipment, and commissioning advanced reactor power plant projects. The desired outcome is improved construction and commissioning effectiveness, as compared to recent nuclear construction projects.
Key Issue: Nuclear Construction Culture
Nuclear construction projects have several unique aspects and requirements when compared with other large-scale construction efforts. This reality presents a key challenge of meeting the additional nuclear- specific construction requirements and expectations while also delivering the project within reasonable tolerances of schedule and budget. While previous efforts to eliminate unnecessary burdens will be informative, more industry-wide effort is needed to right-size approaches for new reactor deployments.
ACTION:
Priority
Status
Establish a mindset of “optimal effort for maximum effect” for the construction of advanced reactors: Develop right-sized approaches for nuclear construction activities. In particular, learning sessions and processes should be established that facilitate eliminating unnecessary work that adds little value to the project. Nuclear construction requires a fresh examination of various workflow aspects to address construction nonconformances effectively. It is crucial to implement robust quality control measures and continuous improvement strategies. Similar actions are present in engineering and procurement.
Action Owner: Designers, constructors and owners
Need Date: Continuous
Key Issue: Advanced Construction Technologies, Standardization, and Effective Detailed Planning
The key challenge is that many new designs are not sufficiently planned before they enter active construction. Effective planning will ensure that innovative construction technologies and standardization strategies result in improved (lower) construction durations and costs. The action to address this is to review and provide assessments of upcoming new technologies. Such assessments should provide an overview of technologies so that industry stakeholders can reach an agreed-on and clear pathway to construction efficiencies.
Trade organizations must be engaged early to ensure that these groups are aware of and train apprentices and journeypersons on using the collection of innovative tools, machinery, modifications, and so on, during the construction phase of a project.
ACTION:
Priority
Status
Develop, enable, and use new construction technologies: Assess the capability of new construction technologies to achieve schedule and workforce reductions. Engage advanced reactor developers and construction modularization experts to close technology and codification gaps. Ensure that construction stakeholders understand the connection and trade-offs impacting construction efficiency. If needed, perform construction demonstrations and tests to accelerate deployment.
Action Owner: EPRI, advanced reactor vendors, designers, and constructors
Need Date: Starting 2023 and continuing
Key Issue: Nuclear Construction Experience
The key challenge is that most nuclear owner/operators (of today or tomorrow) do not have recent construction oversight experience in new nuclear plant construction. With this barrier in mind, owner/operators might lack the skills to take on a large new nuclear construction project.
The action to address this key challenge is to compile construction guidelines that contain information on adequate division of responsibilities, construction feasibility, and critical lessons learned from previous construction projects in and out of the nuclear industry. The best practices should be incorporated by project managers to avoid any future difficulties.
ACTION:
Priority
Status
Use existing construction experience and share new construction experience: Establish a construction task force from engineering, procurement, and construction experts to put together construction plan guidance. The guidance should include strategies for project optimization considering various construction technologies planned for the next generation of nuclear power plants.
Action Owner: NEI, EPRI, and INPO
Need Date: Starting 2024 and continuing