Welcome to WNE 2018; welcome to our new venue, the Paris Nord Villepinte exhibition centre. This year’s event promises

to be the best yet as WNE evolves with the global industry it serves.

At a time when growing energy needs worldwide are coming up against global warming, WNE is the world's benchmark event dedicated to civil nuclear power, a key component of the carbon-free energy mix for the preservation of our planet.

Like a fledgling outgrowing its nest, we have had to move to bigger premises. I hope you will find the Paris Nord Villepinte site conducive to the networking and business discussions that are a hallmark of WNE.

One of our themes this year is digitalisation. The nuclear industry began its digital transformation

throughout the value chain several years ago: from research to dismantling, covering construction, exploitation, maintenance, training and so on.

Today, we see technological innovation accelerating and profoundly transforming the way the nuclear industry invents its future. Our objective is to cut costs significantly while optimising the quality, efficiency, and thus the safety of existing installations and new projects.

At the same time, the digitalisation of civil nuclear power is reinventing industrial processes. This presents a unique opportunity to attract the next generation of technicians and engineers and lay a foundation of excellence on which to build the

‘NICE’ WORK! NEW INITIATIVE PROMISES CLEAN FUTURE

Below: Melting glaciers and ice caps are

becoming an all-too-common

feature of the world’s landscape

The nuclear industry comes to WNE 2018 in Paris in optimistic mood, following the launch of an international initiative to promote nuclear energy as one of the

solutions to climate change.The Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy Future

(NICE Future) coalition led by Canada, Japan and – crucially – the US says that nuclear should be counted as a power source that contributes to preventing global warming.

“It is time for the world to recognise nuclear energy as clean energy,” said Dan Brouillette, US Deputy Secretary of State for Energy, in his

statement introducing the coalition.The initiative was unveiled in Copenhagen in May

at the ninth meeting of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) that brings together representatives of government, industry and key stakeholders in the transition to clean energy.

Since its launch, NICE Future has been joined by Argentina, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Africa, the UAE and UK. Around a dozen other nations are interested.

This is the first time that nations have mobilised to assert their support for nuclear energy and to argue

REPORT I ALAN DRON

JUNE 26 2018 I PARIS NORD VILLEPINTE

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

AN EVENT OF ORGANISED BY

09:30

Take your place for the opening ceremony for WNE 2018

01

1DAY ONE

WNE TRIBUNE

Continued on p2 V

EDITORIAL I GÉRARD KOTTMANN

Today, we see technological innovation accelerating and profoundly transforming the way the nuclear industry invents its future...

NUCLEAR EXCELLENCE: A NEW ERA

TO-DO LIST

Gérard Kottmann

This is the first time that nations have mobilised to assert their support for nuclear energy and to argue that it should be included in international discussions on environmental protection and efforts against global warming

Continued on p2 V

2.00 & 3.15Experts give their views on the big issues at panel discussions

02

SEE PAGE 8

4.45This year’s WNE Awards winners are announced

03

SEE P4-6

ADOB

ESTO

CK

Ruminating on “worst-case scenarios” : Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the NIA

Voluntary agreement paves way for UK nuclear industry post-Brexit

NIA

02 WNE TRIBUNE

Want to share a story withus? Find us at the Press Centre or email our editorial team at: chuck.grieve@gmail.comWNE Tribune is produced by Aerocomm Ltd (email: dailies@aerocomm.aero) on behalf of Reed Expositions France for AIFEN.Reed Expositions France52-54 quai de Dion-Bouton92806 Puteaux Cedex, France www.reedexpo.fr

Editor in chiefGérard KottmannPresident, AIFEN & WNEEditorialChuck GrieveAlan PeafordAlan Dron Steve NicholsPhotographyIan BillinghurstDesign and productionAmelia ClarkFor Reed Expositions FranceMeymouna Azaiez Julia RouauxPrint Advence, Parc des Damiers, 139, rue Rateau - Bat F3, 93120 La Courneve, France

WNE TRIBUNE

EDITORIAL I GÉRARD KOTTMANNV Continued from p1

For more about this year’s awards see p4-6 V

V Continued from p1

jobs of tomorrow.So WNE 2018 promises to be a

showcase for this new era of performance, competitiveness and excellence in civilian nuclear power. You can expect to see and hear about new technologies, innovations and research programmes in atomic modelling and simulation, artificial intelligence, robotics, cobotics, drones, additive manufacturing, augmented reality, connectivity and much more.

In addition to an extensive programme of workshops and roundtable discussions, we have two new features that focus on subjects of great interest and importance: two lunchtime debates, on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Reactors Gen IV and Beyond; and two thematic guided tours of the show, on Digitalisation and Dismantling and Deconstruction (D&D). You will find details of both on our website, www.world-nuclear-exhibition.com.

I hope you will join me at 4.45pm today when the winners in the second WNE Awards are announced. You’ll find the full list of participants on pages 4-6 of this issue of WNE Tribune. New this year are awards for VSEs and SMEs in each of the four categories. They and others will be delighted to talk to you at their stands. Have a good show.

Gérard Kottmann Président, WNE and AIFEN

that it should be included in international discussions on environmental protection and efforts against global warming.

“In our view, it’s a key pivot point for global nuclear energy, in two respects,” said David Blee, president and CEO of the US Nuclear Industry Council.

“One, it gives nuclear energy a meaningful seat at the table at the Clean Energy Ministerial and, two, it’s a lynchpin for international collaboration on hybrid energy systems.”

Hybrid systems are those that have a nexus between renewables and nuclear. By pairing intermittent power sources such as wind and solar with a base-load system – natural gas, coal or nuclear – they become much more useful. Nuclear is the only one

of the three that does not have emissions. “The match between renewables

and nuclear is a perfect pairing; it’s a marriage made in heaven for clean energy advocates,” Blee said.

The recognition that nuclear energy should be regarded as a clean energy source was long overdue, he said, and had been delayed largely because of global politics.

“The fact that this initiative is espousing this is important because it doesn’t stop at the borders of one country.”

The next generation of advanced nuclear reactors are an important part of the equation, he said. “In the past, nuclear wasn’t as versatile as an energy source as it ran 24/7 and was difficult to ramp up

and down, but with these smaller, more versatile reactors, the load-following capability can be enhanced.

“So, I think it’s a significant global initiative, and we welcome it.”

In Canada, the initiative is seen as a change in strategy by the Trudeau government. Kim Rudd, Natural Resources parliamentary secretary, said nuclear “is already an important part of Canada’s energy mix,” and innovative technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs) “have a key role to play in the transition to a low-carbon economy.”

The Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) is aiming to have an SMR on one of the sites it manages by 2026.

Concerns continue as to how exactly the United Kingdom’s nuclear industry will function when it leaves Euratom after Brexit in March 2019.

But the Nuclear Industry Association (NIA) has welcomed progress on a voluntary agreement that will continue to allow officials to inspect UK civil nuclear facilities including Sellafield post-Brexit.

If ratified as expected later this summer, the UK Voluntary Offer Agreement (VOA) – which has been approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) board of directors – will see the UK continue to share information on its civil nuclear facilities and allow inspections by IAEA officials.

At present the sharing of information and inspections goes through the European Commission and its agency, Euratom. But the UK is set to leave Euratom in March 2019 at the same time it exits the European Union.

Speaking about the IAEA approval for the VOA, Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the NIA, said: “This is a welcome step in the process towards creating a domestic regime to replace current Euratom functions.

“It is the first in a series of international agreements which need to be negotiated, agreed and ratified with a number of third countries, and the practical arrangements relating to the UK’s safeguarding regime need to be finalised –

including recruitment, training, systems and equipment.“There has been significant progress over the last few

months, but there remains a lot left to do.“Industry continues to work with government to assist

in this process, but it remains of critical importance that the government finalise negotiations on a transitional framework for the UK before it leaves the EU and Euratom in March 2019, to minimise the risk of future arrangements not being ready at the time the UK ceases to be part of Euratom.”

Greatrex has also said previously that the United Kingdom withdrawing from the EU without a trade deal would be the “worst-case scenario” for the nuclear industry.

In early June, he told a conference in London, organised by Chinese atomic energy company Ocean Energy, that the Brexit transition period would be “crucial” to the sector, which depended in turn on whether the UK is able to strike a trade deal with the EU.

According to Utility Week, Greatrex said “no deal is the worst-case scenario for our industry because of the specific nature of the Euratom treaty”, referring to the EU-wide framework for safeguarding nuclear materials and labour.

The NIA says it welcomes progress on international nuclear agreement as Brexit looms. But it says there remains a lot to do to secure Britain's nuclear sector before it leaves Euratom.

NICE WORK! NEW INITIATIVE PROMISES CLEAN FUTURE

NEWS ROUNDUP

EDF Group has been committed to civil nuclear

cooperation between France

and India since 2010. According to

Bloomberg, India’s current nuclear power

capacity is currently about 6.8 GW, around 2% of the country’s total generation capacity.

NEWS ROUNDUP

INDIA PURSUES CLIMATE TARGET WITH JAITAPUR REPORT I STEVE NICHOLS

JAITAPUR OPENS DOOR FOR FUTURE COOPERATION: RAMANY

total capacity of Jaitapur NPP

10GW

units in one deal

target cut in emissions

6 35%

quickfacts

WNE TRIBUNE 03

EDF sees the Jaitapur nuclear power plant (JNPP) as the start of a long future of cooperation with India in nuclear energy.

The project, in development for a number of years, has made progress recently thanks to strong support from French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a joint statement during the French president’s visit to India in March 2018, the two leaders said they expected to see work started on site in the course of 2019.

Vakis Ramany, EDF’s senior vice-president for new nuclear development, said discussions with the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) on the project’s industrial scheme, and with India’s Department of Atomic Energy, were moving

toward convergence at the end of the year.

No less significant than the scale of the project – six EPR units – is the fact that all six are included in one agreement, he said. “We are confident in the future of the technology, its viability and the ability of the whole supply chain to deliver a safe, approved power plant.

“To see the EPR’s first criticality [at Taishan, China] demonstrates the capability of our industry to progress based on lessons learned, and learned quickly.

“If we are able to conclude our agreements with India by the end of this year, there is a

good chance we could see the first unit in commercial operation well before 2030.”

What is clear, he said, is that when EDF and its Indian partners make a commitment that spans 15 years to a project such as the JNPP, it opens “significant opportunities” for cooperation in construction, operations and maintenance well into the future.

For the Indian nuclear industry, there is potential to work with EDF and the French nuclear industry on projects elsewhere in the world. “I think we are at a critical moment where we’re trying to connect with industry to make nuclear newbuilds an

increasingly viable and safe business,” he said. EDF brings to JNPP a long-term approach rooted in its leadership in the French nuclear industry, its understanding of reactor design and construction, and its track record of safe operations. Ramany said: “We are another company that is involved in the whole value chain of nuclear activity. That integrated view makes this cooperation very solid.”

He said EDF plans to set up a training institute to teach French standards and code of practice to the local supply chain to help these companies respond to procurement requests on the project. Already the French company is building strong relationships with leading Indian companies such as Reliance and Larsen & Toubro.

India’s ambitious nuclear energy programme took a major step forward with the recent signing of an initial contract with France’s EDF for the supply of six reactors to Jaitapur

nuclear power plant (NPP) which, when complete, will be the world’s biggest NPP.

It also reinforces India’s commitment to nuclear energy as a route to tackling climate change.

Last March, Satish Kumar Sharma, chairman and managing director of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL), the government-owned energy company, signed an Industrial Way Forward Agreement with Jean-Bernard Lévy, EDF chairman and chief executive, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The agreement defined the project’s industrial framework, the roles and responsibilities of the partners, as well as a planned timetable for the next steps.

EDF said the objective is to produce a binding offer toward the end of 2018.

The project will be developed in line with Indian’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Skill India’ policies, with the ever-increasing participation of local companies, potentially up to 60% for the last two of the six reactors.

PS Pathak, chief construction engineer, Directorate of Technical-LWR Projects at NPCIL, said: “India is party to the Paris

Agreement on Climate Change (COP-21).“Our intention nationally is to reduce

emissions from the 2005 level by 33-35% by 2030. This will require about 40% of our total electricity to be generated from sources other than fossil fuels, and nuclear is one of the most reliable, commercially viable sources of electricity.

“Accordingly India is pursuing a definitive programme of augmenting its nuclear power through domestic pressurised heavy-water reactor (PHWR) nuclear power plants and projects with international cooperation under inter-governmental agreements.”

Pathak said the Jaitapur site is almost ready for construction activities with the land acquisition now complete. “Environmental and coastal regulation zone clearances, plus work on the site infrastructure, including its power supply, are going well,” he said.

“We have also made good progress on a rainwater harvesting project for construction requirements. Plus social welfare and public outreach activities are continuing on a regular basis.”

Once completed this would make Jaitapur the biggest nuclear project in the world, with a total power capacity of nearly 10 GW.

Under the terms of the agreement, EDF will act as supplier of the EPR technology and will undertake all engineering studies and component procurement activities for the first two reactors. For the other four units, the responsibility for some of purchasing

activities and studies may be assigned to local companies. EDF will also provide NPCIL with its experience from the construction of other EPR reactors worldwide.

In its capacity as owner and future operator of the Jaitapur NPP, NPCIL will be responsible for obtaining all authorisations and certifications required in India, and for constructing all six reactors and site infrastructures. EDF and its industrial partners will assist NPCIL during the construction phase.

Right: French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India at the sign-ing of the agreement last March. Below: PS Pathak

Vakis Ramany, EDF

04 WNE TRIBUNE

CRÈME DE LA CRÈME

The winners in the second WNE Awards programme will be

announced today in the conference centre. The awards celebrate

exceptional achievements in the areas of innovation, nuclear safety,

operational excellence, and skills and knowledge management...

ABB FRANCE SAS (E70)—ABB Ability Smart Sensor. ALTRAN TECHNOLOGIES (H99)—Waste Evacuation Lean Management System (WELMS).

ASE GROUP (D73)—Virtual NPP Technology

ATLAS COPCO RENTAL (D12)—PTS 1600 T4F: The oil free thermic compressor.

ATOS (F89)—Wearables and biometrics for secure access control.

BERTIN TECHNOLOGIES (D125)—SAPHYRAD E Development of an innovative multi-probe contamination monitor taking into account the ALARA Principle.

BOUYGUES TRAVAUX PUBLICS (D104)—GOBIE, a remotely operated vacuum device.

CEA (C142)—Particulate foam flotation: an innovative technology for remediation of Fukushima contaminated soils.

CEA 2 (C142)—SORBMATECH – Development, optimisation and industrialisation of a new mineral sorbent for trace radionuclide removal from contaminated aqueous liquid wastes.

CERAP (K147)—RADEX : Autonomous mobile system to monitor and map ground radioactive contamination

CHINA GENERAL NUCLEAR POWER CORPORATION (CGN)(D67)—FirmSys –safety-classified DCS applied to nuclear power plants.

CMI MUON (H152)—Shock absorbers on the transport frame of CRGT containers.

CMI MUON 2 (H152)—Live video recording of maintenance operation during an outage.

CS SYSTEMES D’INFORMATIONS (K62)—D2C (Device2Cloud).

DELORO WEAR SOLUTIONS (K83)—Nuclear applications for laser cladding with DELORO and STELLITE alloys.

EDF (F137)—EDF eWP: a complete numeric solution for maintenance to optimise activities for work planners and field workers in nuclear power plants.

EDF 2 (F137)—Relax ! ANTARES is driving the simulator.

EDF ENERGY UK 1 (F137)—Driving the standard of international nuclear safety oversight through training.

EDF ENERGY UK 2 (F137)—Construction optimisation at HPC using 4D reality.

FRAMATOME 1 (F141)—Encapsulation of defective fuel rods for transport and dry storage.

FRAMATOME 2 (F141)—Methanol Injection for BWR Vessel Internal Inter Granular Stress Corrosion Cracking (IGSCC) Mitigation.

GDES (G129)—TIRANT robotic system for protecting steam pipes against erosion-corrosion in nuclear power plants.

JAMES FISHER NUCLEAR LTD (C133)—Deflector plate removal from the Pile Fuel Cladding Silo at Sellafield.

KSB SAS (F55)—NUCA PTCV – Passive Thermal Check Valve Temperature actuated, passive isolation of auxiliary piping to prevent Loss of Reactor Coolant Inventory during Station Black Out scenarios.

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD (D137)—Decision Make supporting Panel (DMP) – achieving practicable knowledge processing and an intuitive interface for information to support emergency decision making.

NUVIA (D42)—NuVISION – the revolutionary gamma imager.

ORANO PROJETS 1 (H137)—Improved Laser technology for equipment remote replacement in high-rad Hot Cell.

ORANO PROJETS 2 (H137)—An ultra-compact gamma camera in support of nuclear investigation operations.

SEGULA TECHNOLOGIES (F15)—HotFilter - In-line BioFiltration of metal contaminated waters.

SETEC (G125) —An innovative solution for extending the lifespan of civil engineering structures – Captae and Datae. SIEMENS (C163)—Simatic S7 1500 New Qualified Automation Solutions – ANSSI France.

SPIE NUCLEAIRE (C159)—Predictive Maintenance using acoustic valve detection.

SWECO STRUCTURES LTD (D155)—The use of state-of-the-art procedure in utilising building information.

TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT (D155)—Operation and Maintenance Analytics – new solution for more uptime and less costs.

TRIUMPH GROUP (G180)—Remote mechanical valve actuator (RMVA).

INNOVATION

Following the success of the inaugural WNE Awards in 2016, this year’s programme has “surpassed expectations” in terms of

the number and quality of entries, said WNE president Gérard Kottmann.

“We received close to 150 entries from around the world,” he said.

“It made the task of choosing winners a difficult one for our juries.”

The big change in the awards programme this year has been the creation of separate classes for large companies and for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in each of the four categories.

Kottmann said the standard of entries was as high or higher than in 2016, proving that the size of a company does not necessarily have a bearing on the creativity of its people.

“Innovation and excellence are the bedrock of our industry,” he said. “We see these qualities in abundance in our 2018 award entries.”

entries in the 2018 awards

148

winners

categories

84

quickfacts

WNE AWARDS 2018

Big companies

SMEs and VSEs

AMTECH INGENIERIE (B79) —SAS 5 minutes AMTECH. ARCYS SAS (K74)—Optical level sensor.

ATRON METROLOGY (K147)—New method of calibration of radiation survey meters.

BLASTRAC (C121)—BDC-15KW SPLIT dust collection system. BLASTRAC 2 (C121)—200VMB vertical steel/concrete blaster.

NUCLEAR SAFETY

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Big companies

Big companies

SMEs and VSEs

CAEN SYS (C192)—DigiWaste Pplatform – The world’s first fully digital platform for Nuclear Waste Management.

COFIM INDUSTRIE (G153)—Alpha Module.

CTP ENVIRONNEMENT (F59)—An environmentally friendly and flexible solution: Mobile water treatment and sludge dewatering units for wastewater from demineralised water production facilities on nuclear power plants.

CURIUM (J152)—In situ caracterisation process and methods for unknown radioactive products and pre-treatment on site.

CYCLIFE (F137)—Call to project 4.0, an innovative approach by Cyclife to secure quick capture of innovative solutions.

DELTA NEU (C79)—An innovation in radioactive particles capture: CYCLAIR 300, an exceptionally compact and portable differential pressure device to protect people and the environment.

DITO LIGHTING (E7)—HiRad Series of Rad-Hard LED Lighting.

DR TECHNOLOGIES - KBH INNOVATION (C184)—Airlock dressing/undressing in controlled area.

ERMES (E39)—ERMES ‘VIZA’ hardened colour camera.

EVOLUTION CONSULTING (K30)—Traffic of people and vehicles on sensitive sites.

FLYABILITY (E194) —Elios.

GDES (G129)—Extrados Project: Coating system for improvement of sealing and structural reinforcement for long-term operation of nuclear power plants.

INNOVATIVE PHYSICS (K66) —Radiation Imaging Systems – The Hot Spot Locators.

INSPECTOR SYSTEMS GMBH (G16)—Pipe robot for multiple segment bend travell in vertical and small diameter pipe systems.

METROSCOPE (L47)— become an industrial athlete.

MOLTEX ENERGY (F73)—The Moltex Energy Technology Portfolio: stable salt reactor (SSR), waste to stable salts (WATSS) and GridReserve technology – a waste burning, novel molten salt reactor fuel cycle, making nuclear power safer, cheaper, cleaner.

NIROTEC GMBH (G46)—Easy-fit weldless pipe connector.

NUCLEAR SOUTH WEST (C24)—Hinkley Supply Chain Programme: Delivering value through a new approach to supply chain development.

OB’DO CONTACT AGILE( J144)—Dosicase.

OREKA GROUP (J148)—DEMplus for nuclear.

SIEM SUPRANITE (H80)—Friction reduction of valve stem sealing set, using the new packing SUPRANITE PACKING 243 BF AS, developed with an innovative ultra-pure exfoliated graphite.

STID (B80)—BE.TOOLS.

STIMSHOP (J152)—STIMCOM, wireless communication via ultrasound.

TBC France (C183)—Jack, the autonomous multiterrain security robot.

TECHNODOC (J159)—From machine-operator to an intelligent agent.

TERRESTRIAL ENERGY INC. (G157)—Integral Molten Salt Reactor.

WOZAIR (E190)—Fire dampers.

WOZAIR 2 (E190)—SE1 20SS atom blast and rain protection.

ATOS (F89) —HOOX (Secure and tactical communications).

CATERPILLAR (H23)—First modular design containerised diesel generator set qualified as emergency power source for the nuclear power industry.

CEA (C142)—Development of SiCf/SiC composite cladding for enhanced Accident Tolerant Fuel (eATFs).

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC 1) (D63)—The Risk Informed Management System of CNNO. CNNP (a subsidiary of CNNC) Power Nuclear Power Operations Management Co., Ltd. CNNO has continuously promoted the application of PSA in the daily operation. Thus a risk informed management system was established and optimised continuously.

China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC 2) (D63)—Set up human factor working team, implement equipment classification management, and improve safety performance.

CNIM (D125) —The Chernobyl new safe containment leak tightness membrane.

DASSAULT SYSTEMES (D109)—Data-driven configuration management system as the information platform to ensure nuclear safety for a fleet of nuclear power plants.

EDF (F137)—Innovative foundations to avoid the ruin of buildings by liquefaction of soil in case of earthquake.

EKIUM (H130)—Lightning aggression consideration on nuclear power plants.

FRAMATOME (F141)—Passive ShutDown Seal (PSDS). Framatome PSDS robust, reliable and easy-to-install solution improves NPP safety dramatically reducing RCP Seal leakage in Station Black-Out (SBO) conditions.

KSB SAS (F55) —KSB solutions for Station Black Out Defense-in-depth: Three different barriers creating multiple layers of protection against fluid leakage from the Reactor Coolant System.

ORANO DS (H137) —Investigation radiological innovation safety (IRIS).

ORANO PROJETS (H137) —Design optimisation for a Short-Lifecycle Building.

ROSATOM (D73) —Nuclear safety implementation at the Pilot Demonstration Center (PDC), Federal State Unitary Enterprise ‘Mining and Chemical Combine’ (Entity of the State Corporation ‘Rosatom’).

University of Bristol/Nuclear South West (C24) —The J-value Rating Service for assessing nuclear safety systems.

VEOLIA NUCLEAR SOLUTIONS (D93) —Veolia Remote Access Technologies, Responding Crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi Plant, Japan.

AMTECH Ingénierie (B79) —MTAO AMTECH.

AVAROC (L49)—SECURIX.

AXS INGENIERIE (H31)— Vigilev – Assessment of integrity of heavy overhead cranes for nuclear industry.

BERNARD CONTROLS (H114)—Bernard Controls solutions for Nuclear Safety: SN qualified electric actuators designed with safety in mind.

CATHELAIN (H118)—C-Bolt.

CeoTronics AG (B130)—CT-DECT systems for nuclear power plants.

CYCLIFE (F137)—UMIS – A turnkey solution controlled area, serving NPP logistics.

DAES (K34)—Comprehensive checks of FEA results against mechanical design criteria.

Horizon Data Services (H173)—Aerial drone inspection for confined spaces in controlled areas.

ICOHUP (K28)—RIUM: global monitoring solution with a real time dosi-spectrometer.

ISYmap (K123)—GLOBall – tough wireless beacon for rough conditions. Can be used in various environments including nuclear thanks to its modular design. Its ease of use and versatility make it ideal for emergency/first responders, it keeps operators far away and safe from hazards.

KSR-Kueber (K74)—Accident Level Measurement device type – ALM.

LABORATOIRE CEVIDRA (H179)—Protection of nuclear workers: new emergency medical treatment for external exposures to uranium, plutonium, americium and thorium.

NIROTEC GMBH & Co. KG (G46)—Weld-less high-pressure pipe connector.

RAFIX (J145)—RAFIX – unions, quick coupling, hoses for industry.

STid (B80)—BE.WEAPON.

TECHNODOC (J159)—The right information for the right decision.

Continued on p6 V

ABB FRANCE SAS (E70)—ABB Ability Asset Suite.

ASE GROUP (D73)—Development of the digital model of Hanhikivi-1 NPP Project, using BIM3 level approaches.

ASSYSTEM (D70)—Operational Excellence through optimised digital asset management.

ATLAS COPCO RENTAL (D12)—PTS 800: An all round compact and flexible compressor.

BUREAU VERITAS (D84)—NC Digital: a collaborative platform towards enhanced and cost-effective conformity assessment processes.

CAPGEMINI (F11)—Design in Context and 3D Explorer for assets.

CHINA NATIONAL NUCLEAR CORPORATION/CNNC (D63)— Nuclear Power Unit Operation Performance Improvement Project. CNNP is a subsidiary of CNNC.

CMI MUON (H152)—Removal of crystallised boron deposit in TEU system.

CNIM (D125)—Jules Horowitz reactor core.

CS SYSTEMES D’INFORMATIONS 2 (K62)—BOREADES: an anti-UAV system.

WNE AWARDS

1) Innovation François Jacq, Chairman and Chief Executive, CEA

2) Nuclear safety Jacques Regaldo, WANO Chairman

3) Operational excellence Maria Korsnick, President of the Nuclear Energy Institute

4) Skill and knowledge management Jean Llewellyn OBE, former Executive Director of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear

Chairmen presiding over the four category juries

1 2 3 4

WNE TRIBUNE 05

CEA/

P. DU

REUI

L

China marks Taishan and Sanmen nuclear milestones

06 WNE TRIBUNE

CS SYSTEMES D’INFORMATIONS (K62)— Innovative ToolKit for analysing Time Series (IKATS).

EDF ENERGY UK (F137)—Real time control and tracking of radioactive waste using ‘CRADLE’.

EMERSON (D118)—Nuclear Fleet Management on critical valve applications.

NRG (G110)—ROSA core reload optimiser saves Vattenfall fuel cost.

ORANO (H137)—Mobile apparatus for nuclear

expertise and localisation assistance (MANUELA): Real-Time 3D.

ORANO PROJETS SAS (H137)—Design to cost approach for optimal design of crisis command centres.

SOURIAU SAS (K112)—Nuclear connectors assembly.

SPIE NUCLEAIRE (C159)—Work in Progress and Performance System management.

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP (G73)—Westinghouse Baffle-former bolt replacement services support reactor internal management.

EDF (F137)—A real and digitalised mockup of bolted flanges for a training as realistic as possible.

EDF ENERGY UK (F137)— Changing how we think and act in a nuclear safety environment using virtual reality.

ENGIE 1 (H73)—The nuclear trainee programmes of ENGIE – an integrated development approach for our nuclear workforce.

ENGIE 2 (H73)—Digitalising an array of tools to drive skills development incorporating nuclear safety.

EPIC / INSTN (C142)—Enhanced virtual open core – EVOC.

FRAMATOME (F141)—Framatome’s WebCAP database documents, tracks, shares and preserves knowledge relevant to safe nuclear power plant maintenance from an aging workforce for the next generation via lessons learned, observations, self-assessments, continuous improvements and cause analysis with corrective actions.

ORANO 1 (H137)—Know-how capitalisation in simulation tools for critical handling operations.

ORANO 2 (H137)—Orano Technical Training Schools

for reprocessing operations.

ROSATOM 1 (D73)—Integrated approach to implementation of the knowledge management system at JSC ‘Afrikantov OKBM’.

ROSATOM 2 (D73)—Development system of engineering and working competencies in ROSATOM in accordance with the international requirements – ‘AtomSkills’.

ROSENERGOATOM 1 (D73)—An integration of nuclear knowledge sub-management system as an element of the integrated management system at JSC ‘Concern Rosenergoatom’.

ROSENERGOATOM 2 (D73)—The training system on ROSATOM production system at the enterprises of the State Corporation ROSATOM.

SUEZ (G69)—Serious Game for radioprotection training of nuclear operators.

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP 1 (G73)—Westinghouse Springfields apprentice training programme.

WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP 2 (G73)—Raise the Bar.

ARCYS SAS (K74)—Wireless systems for NPP with LoRa.

EAB ENGINEERING (L23)—Using mixed reality digital twins for remote collaboration.

NEWTESOL SLU (J52)—

Cladding welding technology pushed to its extreme limits.

NUCLEOPOLIS (H142)—EXC’OP, the Norman label dedicated to the operational excellence powered by Nucleopolis and sponsored by Orano and EDF.

SITEFLOW SOLUTION (K40)—SiteFlow Solution.

TACQUET INDUSTRIES (C125)—Onsite machining.

TECHNODOC (J159)—From machine-operator to an intelligent agent.

EXPERCONNECT (H46)—Innovageing management.

SICA NUCLEAIRE 1 (H45)—E-learning module: nuclear

safety awareness.

SICA NUCLEAIRE 2 (H45)—RCC-E code accredited AFCEN.

TECHNODOC (J159)—

Knowledge workers.

THERMOCOAX (K108)—ISO 19443 and skills and knowledge management.

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCEBig companies continued

Big companies

SMEs and VSEs

SMEs and VSEs

THIS YEAR’S WNE AWARD

V Continued from p5

entrants

China’s nuclear reactor programme reached significant milestones recently with its EDF European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) in Taishan and

Westinghouse AP1000 in Sanmen.EDF reported in early June that the first nuclear chain

reaction had been initiated at the Taishan EPR in Guangdong province.

Xavier Ursat, EDF’s head of new nuclear and engineering, tweeted that this was “excellent news for the entire nuclear industry”.

Reuters reported that China General Nuclear Power (CGN), which holds the remaining stake in the project in the southeastern province of Guangdong, said in April that fuel loading had started at the reactor after it was cleared by the China National Nuclear Safety Commission.

EDF Group holds around a 30% stake in the project in China. It is developing two EPRs at Taishan, with electromechanical assembly continuing on Unit 2 and start-up planned for 2019.

EDF says its activities in Asia are part of a deliberate growth strategy that reflect a “spirit of cooperation and partnership, and a commitment to EDF’s corporate and environmental values”.

Meanwhile, in late April, fuel assemblies were loaded into the core of Unit 1 of the Sanmen nuclear power plant in China's Zhejiang province, following a permit being issued by the country's nuclear regulator. The unit is expected to become the first Westinghouse AP1000 to enter operation later this year.

José Emeterio Gutiérrez, Westinghouse president and chief executive officer, said: “This is the next major step in delivering the world’s first AP1000 plant to our customer and demonstrating the benefits of our advanced passive safety technology to the world.”

An AP1000 reactor plant is also being built in the US state

of Georgia. Tim Echols, vice-chair of Georgia Public Service Commission, visited the Sanmen construction site in May during a trip to China.

He said: “I found a very safety-conscious culture at the plant, in their security protocols, and even in pedestrian safety on the street and in subway stations — sometimes surpassing what I see in the US. The Chinese have completed four state-of-the-art advanced units before we have finished even one — that’s impressive.

“It was very motivating to see these units completed. We hope that our completion of the project in 2021-22 will encourage other states to follow our lead.”

Westinghouse, now part of the Canadian firm Brookfield Asset Management, won the bid in 2007 for China’s Generation III+ nuclear power projects to build two AP1000 reactors in Sanmen and two in Haiyang, Shandong province. The company has two additional units currently under construction in the US at the Vogtle Electric Generating Plant near Waynesboro, Georgia.

China’s Taishan NPP has achieved an EPR milestone

REPORT I STEVE NICHOLS

V Trade shows are all about business, and WNE is no exception. It’s not always easy to make the right connections, so the WNE organisers are offering to help with a free business meeting service.

The service is designed to bring buyers and suppliers together in targeted, pre-arranged 25-minute appointments. Participants will also have access to the full business meeting database.

The 3,250 business meetings organised at WNE 2016 were up 62.5% on the first WNE, proving how valuable exhibitors and visitors consider the service.

This offer is aimed at exhibitors who are suppliers, contractors or solution holders, and visitors who are buyers, principals or project leaders. The meetings can be held at the Buyers’ Club or at an exhibitor’s booth, as participants prefer.

Go to www.world-nuclear-exhibition.com/ and click on ‘Business Meetings’ to book

Match-making at WNE

meetings organised at

WNE 2016

increase in WNE 2016 bookings

over 2014

minutes for each meeting

253,250 62.5%

GO FIGURE I OUR MEETINGS SERVICE IN NUMBERS

Flashback: E174m ITER contract signing at WNE 2016

WNE TRIBUNE 07

NEWS ROUNDUP

NuScale uprates SMR outputNuScale Power (Stand F160) has boosted the power generation of its SMR by 20%, thanks to advanced testing and modelling that helped identify opportunities for optimisation.

The Oregon-based company says this development will not affect the current design review by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) or the scheduled September 2020 approval date of its Design Certification Application (DCA).

“The value engineering applied not only offers cost-savings and improved

performance, it does so without affecting the unparalleled safety of our advanced nuclear reactor design,” said John Hopkins, NuScale Power Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

The new gross output of the NuScale power plant is 720 MWe, and will result in a saving of up to 18% on the cost of electricity for its launch customer, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS).

NuScale says its first plant will be operational by the mid-2020s.

Rosatom’s controversial floating nuclear power plant, the Akademik Lomonosov, is en route to Pevek, in the extreme north-east of the country, to replace nearby land-based reactors at Bilbino that are due to shut down.

The vessel, which is effectively a barge mounting for two modified KLT-40C

reactors usually found in the country’s nuclear icebreakers and generating 35MW each, left St Petersburg under tow in late April for Murmansk, where it was to be loaded with nuclear fuel. It is due to move

to Pevek sometime in 2019.

V Rosatom explores the topic of floating NPPs as a unique solution for a green future at 1.30pm today at its stand, D73.

FloatingRosatom NPPheads north

CANADA COMMITTED TO NUCLEAR STRATEGY Capgemini has focus on

augmented realityV Capgemini (Stand F11) has developed a mobile communication system for workers performing maintenance operations within the reactor building during a shutdown.

This makes it possible to communicate back to base via audio/video. Capgemini says the next step is to enable the real-time visibility of dose rates on glasses equipped with augmented reality (AR).

AR is a technology that superimposes a computer-generated image on a user’s view of the real world, thus providing a composite view.V Read more about Digitalisation

at world-nuclear-exhibition.com

COPI-NR offers safety in numbersV Personnel hunting for radioactive materials being used for criminal or terrorist acts are to be aided by a new grouping of French businesses and research centres, led by SDS France (Stand L45). The Operational Capacity for the Identification of Nuclear and Radiological materials (COPI-NR) aims to develop a new, portable system that brings together a gamma-ray spectrometer, a vibrating bracelet and pager. The pager will be connected to a command centre for real-time confirmation and countermeasures in the event of nuclear or radiological materials being discovered.

Remote alert from new ‘smart’ bolt VFrench bolt and fastener specialist Cathelain (Stand H118) is bringing to WNE its new C-Bolt, which is designed to alert plant operators if it starts to loosen, which could jeopardise the safety of a piece of equipment or larger plant.

The bolt works on the principle of polarimetric interferometry, a process used in the nuclear industry for many years.

The new bolt can be installed up to 7km from a control centre or recording device.

inbriefinbrief

Canada’s nuclear sector is attending WNE in Paris in robust health, with plans being made not only to extend the

lives of the country’s existing power stations, but with its government actively pursuing the prospect of new-generation Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Justin Hannah, senior director, marketing, strategy and external relations of SNC-Lavalin’s nuclear operations, sees the Canadian nuclear industry as “extremely healthy”. “The governments, both federal and provincial, have invested significant dollars into the industry over the past decades. For example, Ontario has invested C$26 billion in the life extension of CANDU units where we manage the supply of close to 60% of Ontario’s power over the next 30 years. The federal government has invested C$1.2 billion in Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) at Chalk River.”

The C$26 billion is to extend the lives of four reactors at Darlington and six at Bruce, which will provide a significant amount of supply work for the industry over the next 15 years.

Considerable work and planning is also under way around the deployment of SMRs; Canada is a centre of SMR development, with no fewer than 10 designs under the regulatory review process at present, with four of those having been submitted to CNL for consideration, both to add to the national power grid and for off-grid applications for remote communities.

Earlier this month, CNL president and CEO Mark Lesinski said the response to its invitation to submit SMR designs “has already exceeded our expectations.” A final report detailing an ‘SMR roadmap’ is expected later this year and CNL has the goal of having an SMR on one of the sites it manages by 2026.

“The reactor designs being proposed are both evolutionary – building on the strengths of past nuclear technologies – and revolutionary, with innovative advances in efficiency, safety and technical design,” said Corey McDaniel, CNL’s vice-president of business development.

Meanwhile, Canada has started the verification and validation stage of key components to improve the confidence of the Canadian Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor concept. Significant effort is also being put into investigating alternative fuels in CANDU reactors and talks are under way with China and the UK to utilise these.

CANDU reactors, with their heavy water moderation,

are able to use a variety of

fuels, including natural and

recycled uranium, mixed oxide and

thorium.As in many countries, the topic of nuclear

waste – whether contaminated equipment or spent fuel – creates arguments in Canada, but the country has a well-funded programme to deal with it, says Hannah.

A design for the repository has been created and six locations – most in northern Ontario – are under study. “Within the next three to five years, a final site will be selected, at which point they will begin work to build the repository. It will be at least another decade after the site selection that the facility

will be operational,” said Hannah.SNC-Lavalin recently acquired UK

engineering company Atkins: “It gives us great access into the European and US market… and broadens our breadth of capabilities quite considerably.”

The company is also in talks with other companies over technologies to vitrify waste, or to convert it to medical isotopes. CANDU reactors, uniquely, can produce such isotopes.

Canada’s nuclear sector also includes the vital training aspect. L3 MAPPS, for example, produces exact replicas of nuclear power station control rooms to train station personnel not only in their smooth running but also for dealing with every contingency.

L3 MAPPS has widely exported its simulated control rooms and is currently doing so in Belgium, China and the US.

The company will be at WNE with a new version of its control room instructor station based on Windows 10 software, which uses on-screen graphic ‘tiles’ and hand gestures to control the system.

The governments, both federal and provincial, have invested significant dollars into the industry over the past decades. For example, Ontario has invested C$26 billion in the life extension of CANDU units where we manage the supply of close to 60% of Ontario’s power over the next 30 years. The federal government has invested C$1.2 billion in CNL at Chalk RiverJustin Hannah, SNC-Lavalin

The lives of six reactors at Bruce (pictured) and four at Darlington will be extended with a C$26 billion investment

NEWS ROUNDUP

08 WNE TRIBUNE

Digital transformation enables data continuity and visibility for nuclear operators throughout their

assets’ lifecycle, improving performance, sustainability and safety.

Thomas Grand, vice-president energy and processes of Dassault Systèmes (Stand D109) says the industry has had the first wave of digitalisation, and now things are moving on.

He is in a good position to comment. Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, first released six years ago, is designed as a single environment where project stakeholders can work collaboratively to develop customised solutions with “unprecedented” speed, efficiency, and cost.

“We provide a digital platform, not to replicate what we used to do, but to provide consistency across a business,” Grand said. “We weave a digital thread across an organisation and across time.

“The next step is to show how companies can collaborate across their whole ecosystem, including their suppliers.”

He said Dassault Systèmes’ 30 years’ experience in software, coupled with its background in providing secure information systems for aerospace, meant it is ideally placed to handle sensitive data in the nuclear power industry.

Elements harnesses AI to learn space lessonsV Elements (Stand K38) is using artificial intelligence (AI) and knowledge gained from the space sector to predict the end of life of electronics in a harsh nuclear environment.

In space, electronic equipment is constantly bombarded by cosmic rays and fast-moving particles from the sun. As a result space-based equipment has to be radiation-hardened.

Elements’ patented AI technology (r3Care) can help customers anticipate if and when their robots may fail and use commercial-off-the-shelf electronics with better knowledge of their lifespan and health.V Read more about Artificial

Intelligence at world-nuclear-exhibition.com

Take an AR tour of a reactorV Visitors to CEA, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (Stand C142), can test CEA’s EVOC device – a nuclear reactor simulator developed with INSTN that uses augmented reality (AR) to teach. It has physical elements like a real reactor and a control console coupled to a virtual reality (VR) device that allows for a realistic 4D ‘life-size’ experience.

inbriefinbriefDassault Systèmes weaves ‘digital thread’ across companies

“Our systems consume information and provide a unified model to everyone, wherever you are in the company,” Grand said. “But most importantly you only see the information you are authorised to see.”

In terms of the nuclear industry, Dassault Systèmes says it works with both engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies, such as ASE in Russia, and nuclear power plant (NPP) operators in China, Japan and Europe. It’s looking to extend its footprint with nuclear operators in the US as well.

ASE, part of the Rosatom Group, worked with Dassault Systèmes to streamline the management of plant lifecycle from design to commissioning. Together the companies created a solution that would integrate process engineering, design and construction in a unified digital NPP model.

With the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, ASE has an integrated environment for collaboration and data exchange with hundreds of suppliers providing all project stakeholders with real-time feedback for faster issue resolution.

“Digital technologies can increase plant reliability and safety, which is an innovative approach that cements ASE’s reputation as a serious contender as it competes in the global nuclear power market,” said Grand.

Dassault Systèmes and European engineering company Assystem work together to improve the management and industrial performance of complex engineering projects by using its digital technologies.

Last November, Dassault Systèmes announced it had been selected by I&C

Energo in the Czech Republic. “Companies that engineer, build, or operate capital facilities need agility and efficiency to differentiate their market offering while minimising their risk exposure,” said Grand.

“Using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, I&C Energo can rely on consistent information to adhere to standards, improve asset quality and safety, and reduce project-related time and costs, resulting in a better experience for its customers.”

REPORT I STEVE NICHOLS

DAY ONE PROGRAMME

DAY ONE PANEL DISCUSSIONS

PANEL DISCUSSIONS

V 9:30-10:30 Opening ceremony with Bruno La Maire, France’s Minister of Economy and Finance, and Yukiya Amano, Director-General of the IAEA.

1 2

This year’s programme of panel discussions address the WNE 2018 theme, ‘Nuclear excellence: a new era’, and promise to provide insights into questions and challenges facing the nuclear industry today.

V 10:30-11:30 Opening tour

V 11:00-12:30 Exhibitors workshops – morning sessions

V 1:30-4:30 Exhibitors workshops – afternoon sessions

V 2:00-3:00 EDF panel discussion

V 3:15-4:15 Orano panel discussion

V 4:45-6:00 WNE Awards ceremony

V 6:00-7:00 WNE Happy Hour

14.00hOWNER-OPERATOR MODEL IN A LOW CARBON ELECRITICY MIXPanel host Jean-Bernard Levy, chief executive, EDF

15.15hWHEN NUCLEAR REINVENTS ITSELF AND CHANGES THE PARADIGMPanel host Philippe Knoche, Chief executive, Orano

The first of 10 high-level discussions starts at 2pm this afternoon when EDF hosts a discussion on ‘The

owner-operator model in a low carbon electricity mix’. Chairing the panel is EDF chief executive Jean-Bernard Levy.

With lifetime extension of the existing nuclear fleet and the upcoming operations of the first third-generation (Gen III) nuclear power plants, nuclear energy is at a crossroads.

Nuclear’s sustainable contribution to a low-carbon energy mix is now recognised as complementing renewable energy.

Promoting the owner-operator model,

which allows the development of a safety culture at each level of a nuclear project and NPP operation, can strengthen nuclear’s case.

The afternoon’s second discussion, sponsored by Orano with its chief executive, Philippe Knoche, in

the chair, asks if there is likely to be a 21st-century nuclear renaissance without first creating a 21st-century nuclear industry.

To meet the needs of deregulated markets in developed countries, and to out-compete fossil fuels in the developing world, the industry needs to innovate. But the old model of top-down innovation stands in the way of commercialising the next generation of nuclear.

The industry must tilt the playing field toward smaller, more entrepreneurial

start-ups, or integrate an innovative impulse within larger companies.

The prospect of disruptive innovation within a highly complex technological industry has precedents.

Our panel members have been selected to share with the audience how an innovative ecosystem is paving the way to new frontiers for the nuclear industry, how disruptive innovation has impacted other sectors such as aerospace, and how cross-sector benefits can derive from innovation learnings.

The programme continues tomorrow from 09.25h. Details of speakers at each event can be found in the Visitors’ Guide or on the WNE website at www.world-nuclear-exhibition.com

This discussion will seek answers for several key questions, among them: V Which players provide a benchmark? V How do they interface with each other? V What can they leverage to get the most

of a nuclear asset in an energy mix with increasing integration of intermittency?

V Are there alternatives to the owner-operator model?