RT-442

Efficient nuclear power project delivery – tailoring Front-End Planning and PDRI for the nuclear power segment

An initiative to customize a proven, well established CII Best Practice to enhance new nuclear project definition and development, and to enable more predictable and positive outcomes.  
 

Why It Matters

• New nuclear construction is poised for significant growth in North America.
• New nuclear construction projects have struggled with cost and schedule predictability, impacting confidence in the industry's ability to deliver to targets and align associated financing.
• CII has established best practices for Front End Planning, including the PDRI tool, with proven metrics to enhance/reduce project costs and schedule, leading to increased delivery certainty.  

Related R&D

• PDRI: Project Definition Rating Index – Industrial Projects, Version 5.0 (IR113-2)
• Front End Planning Toolkit 2014.1
• Adding Value through Front End Planning (SP268-3)
• (Ongoing RT) RT-432 Streamlining and improving the efficiency of Front End Planning
• DOE G 413.3-12A, Front-End Planning and Project Definition Rating Index for Nuclear and Non-Nuclear Constructions Projects 

Questions

• Primary: How can we leverage and tailor the content of the existing FEP process and PDRI tool to better prepare the project stakeholders for readiness, awareness, and ultimately improved nuclear project delivery and execution?
• What PDRI elements a common across all PDRI implementations and which ones vary by industry segment? Which elements are specific for nuclear projects?
• What advancements in engineering modeling, modularization, construction technology, supply chain challenges, human performance requirements, nuclear quality aspects associated with newly licensed reactor technologies and business processes aligned with project controls need to be incorporated into this nuclear focused PDRI content? 

Expected Outcome(s):

• New, specific PDRI for new nuclear construction projects including SMRs projects.
• Insights for an FEP process framework adapted to the nuclear segment’s lifecycle and stakeholder needs.
• A white paper on PDRI elements that have stayed common across different PDRI for different industry segments, and categories and components that have commonly being adapted (this should help future decisions on PDRI development).

Expected format:

Traditional 1-year Research Team, plus a pre-kickoff workshop to be funded separately. CII will provide a stipend and cover travel costs for the workshop, which will be hosted in April, following the CII Board of Advisors meeting in Austin, TX. The goal of the workshop is to start defining specific aspects to be considered in a nuclear power project PDRI and to engage potential team members, expediting the RT delivery process.

Notes to the Team

• What this is not about: 
  • Defining demand and forecasts for nuclear projects and other clean energy sources. 
  • Addressing specific nuclear technologies.
  • Improving or solving regulatory aspects of nuclear project delivery (but rather about capturing and managing them in FEP).
• Recommended approach: adapt to Section 2 (technical scope) of the existing PDRI for nuclear projects in general, leaving Sections 1 and 3 largely unchanged. The team may then tailor for SMRs (and future teams may do the same for other segments). 
• Consider engaging UT’s Nuclear research faculty, who are also connected to regulators and nuclear projects in Texas.
• Consider engaging DOE and NRC
• Expected academics’ background: 
  • Required: familiarity with FEP research
  • Preferred: PDRI research experience.