A similar kind upgrade of 17 reactors owned by Exelon Corporation may cost $3.5 billion, the company said in June 2009. The technique is yet to be tried in Japan.
According to Atomic Energy Society of Japan, the technique uprating would increase the capacity of the boiling-water type units used by TEPCO by around 7% without compromising safety.
To meet Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama’s climate targets, Japan should increase dependence on atomic energy, a senior trade ministry official said.
Japan Atomic Power Company is to explore uprating, and is seeking permission from the central government and local community to use the technique to add 5% to the capacity of one of its plants.
According to Japan’s trade ministry and the Atomic Energy Society, power uprates increase capacity by equipment upgrades that do not require major construction or extended shutdowns.
