The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has completed the acceptance review of Westinghouse Electric Co.’s seismic option, the company said this week.
The Specialized Seismic Option is a development made to the company’s AP1000 reactor, allowing it to withstand increased seismic activity in areas where earthquakes are common.
“The NRC’s acceptance review of the Specialized Seismic Option is an important step forward with our plans to bring AP1000 plants to more locations across the globe,” Jeff Benjamin, Westinghouse’s senior vice president for new plants and major projects, said. “This option will allow people living in areas with higher seismic activity to benefit from the carbon-free energy produced from our safe and reliable technology.”
The completion of the acceptance review allows the official licensing process to begin, which involves evaluating the safety and viability of the proposed system. Westinghouse said the seismic option would be beneficial in areas that experience high levels of seismic activity by facilitating safer accessibility to nuclear electricity generation.
The company said it is working with its parent company, Toshiba Corp., to reinforce building materials that are customized. The seismic option includes all safety features that the traditional AP1000 nuclear reactor possesses.
