Good news but still far behind on rate of energy development, and using old technology. Westinghouse licensed the AP1000 design to China a while back, and they went on to make their own version of it. I don’t know what the IP issues are there, if any, but it’s the newest version of this design (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAP1400). The AP1000 this article is about is now 20 years old (since regulation approval).
There looks to be significant room to run with the AP1000 concept to higher power outputs, with a CAP1700 on the cards as well.
I feel that building the AP1000 now is better than running a design/licensing exercise for the next few years to make a better power station. The construction pipeline needs to be started, after which evolving the design to expand output becomes desirable.
Good news but still far behind on rate of energy development, and using old technology. Westinghouse licensed the AP1000 design to China a while back, and they went on to make their own version of it. I don’t know what the IP issues are there, if any, but it’s the newest version of this design (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAP1400). The AP1000 this article is about is now 20 years old (since regulation approval).
I can't find the link, but I believe Westinghouse retained rights to the modifications made to create the CAP1400; https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/CAP1400-preliminary-... suggests Westinghouse had a hand in the design.
There looks to be significant room to run with the AP1000 concept to higher power outputs, with a CAP1700 on the cards as well.
I feel that building the AP1000 now is better than running a design/licensing exercise for the next few years to make a better power station. The construction pipeline needs to be started, after which evolving the design to expand output becomes desirable.