The economic effect of increased seismic load on nuclear power plant design and construction costs

Abstract This paper identifies those LWR nuclear power plant components and structures whose costs are effected by current US seismic design requirements typically identified as seismic category I. It then develops a cost differential estimate effecting both engineering design as well as construction costs between a nominal 0.1g operational basis earthquake zero period ground acceleration and 0.3g OBE, ZPGA. The conclusion reached is that incremental nuclear total power plant costs increase in the range of 5 1 2 –6 1 2 % as a function of increased seismic design loads in going from a 0.2g safe shutdown earthquake zero period ground acceleration to 0.6g.