Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Techno-Economic Analysis of Product Diversification Options for Sustainability of the Monticello and Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plants

  • Lane Knighton
  • , Daniel Wendt
  • , James Richards
  • , Cristian Rabiti
  • , Abdalla Abou Jaoude
  • , Tyler Westover
  • , Kurt Vedros
  • , Samuel Bates
  • , Amgad Elgowainy
  • , Adarsh Bafana
  • , Richard Boardman
  • , Krishna Reddi
  • , Guiyan Zang
  • , Mark Ruth
  • , Bethany Frew
  • , Daniel Levie
  • , Paige Jadun
  • , Jal Desai
  • , Sherry Bernhoft
  • , Brittany Westlakd
  • David McCollum, Daniel Ludwig, Molly Strasser, Bryan Ramler

Research output: Book/ReportTechnical Report

Abstract

The objective of this work was to perform techno-economic analysis (TEA) of hybrid options that could be integrated with light water reactor (LWR) nuclear power plants (NPPs) in order to improve the viability and sustainability of existing LWRs through product diversification by utilizing nuclear energy not only to produce grid electricity but to also produce carbon free products such as hydrogen, ammonia or synthetic fuels. Much of the analysis herein could be generally applied to any LWR (high temperature steam electrolysis- HTSE design), but hydrogen demand and the optimization of the HTSE was completed with specific collaboration and data from Xcel Energy’s Prairie Island and Monticello nuclear generating stations and the surrounding market and logistics potential in the greater Minneapolis region. Xcel Energy has set aggressive goals with regards to decarbonization, including an 80% reduction in CO2 emissions from 2005 levels, by 2030 and 100% carbon free by 2050. Other TEAs regarding hydrogen production with nuclear energy have been completed in collaboration with other utility companies previously. Besides being the first TEA in this regard specific to Xcel Energy and the surrounding markets and logistics, this TEA adds to the previously completed TEAs by providing the most up to date and state of the art analysis and optimization of the hydrogen production plant integrated with nuclear power (NPP-HTSE
Original languageAmerican English
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 30 2021

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Techno-Economic Analysis of Product Diversification Options for Sustainability of the Monticello and Prairie Island Nuclear Power Plants'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this