Nuclear power construction lessons learned relevant to new nuclear build in the U.K.

 The most significant lessons identified in the study are as follows:
Follow-on replica stations are cheaper than first-of-a-kind.
A statement of the obvious perhaps but the implications for electricity supply planning, investment and politics are huge. A secure electricity supply will be cheaper to build with less financial risk and uncertainty about completion dates if a firm commitment is made to a fleet of identical stations rather than one at a time.

The design must be mature and licensing issues resolved prior to start of construction.
This was the case for Sizewell B and is the purpose of the Generic Design Assessment for new designs in the UK. It has not been the case in all countries. Permission to start nuclear construction does not always imply that the regulator is satisfied that the design can be licensed for operation.

Establish a highly-qualified team to develop the design, secure the safety case, plan the procurement and build schedule in detail in collaboration with main contractors.
This emphasis on highly-qualified teams and collaboration is essential for large, capital intensive, complex and technologically sophisticated projects. It does not necessarily imply less competition except when specialist skills are in very short supply. A commitment to collaborate and provide a high quality team for the duration of the project must be a requirement of the competitive process with contract and procurement strategies to achieve this.

Ensure that sub contractors are of high quality and experienced in nuclear construction or are taught the necessary special skills and requirements for quality, traceability and documentation.
This requires investment by industry and educational institutions and the inspiration of students to commit to an intellectually challenging and specialized career. This requires an unequivocal commitment and encouragement from government.

Establish and maintain good communications with the community local to the site.
A nuclear station will be part of the community for a century. It is important that the local community is kept informed and involved, that concerns and fears are addressed and the station is perceived as bringing benefits as well as being in the ‘national interest’.

The report looked at the lessons learned from Sizewell B, a PWR completed in 1995; the installation of waste processing facilities at Sellafield; Olkiluoto 3, the EPR plant under construction in Finland; Flamanville 3, the EPR plant under construction in France; Taishan units 1 & 2 the EPR plants under construction in China; and Sanmen and Haiyang, the AP1000 plants under construction in China.

Looking at Legislation, Regulation and Planning; Design, Planning and Procurement; Construction; Commissioning and Operation; and Provision of Skills and Knowledge Management, the review of these projects found that the most obvious lessons learned were:

1. Follow-on replica stations are cheaper than first-of-a-kind.
2. The design must be mature and licensing issues resolved prior to start of construction.
3. Establish a highly-qualified team to develop the design, secure the safety case, plan the procurement and build schedule in detail in collaboration with main contractors.
4. Ensure that sub contractors are of high quality and experienced in nuclear construction or are taught the necessary special skills and requirements for quality, traceability and documentation.
5. Establish and maintain good communications with the community local to the site.
http://www.powergenworldwide.com/index/display/articledisplay/1669680228/articles/powergenworldwide/nuclear/reactors/2010/11/Lessons-learned-relevant-new-nuclear-build-in-UK.html