Members
Electricité de France (EDF), a limited company since 2004, is the world’s largest nuclear power operator with 58 pressurized water reactors in France. EDF has a total installed capacity of 63 GW, providing more than 85% of France’s electricity. EDF aims at being a long-term player in the current worldwide nuclear renaissance. It is then necessary to get ready to design and build new facilities while operating existing plants as long as possible in a safe and cost-effective manner. In front of these energy challenges and convinced that considerable progress can be obtained by putting together scientific efforts, resources, experience (EDF possesses over 1450 reactor-years of feedback) and skills with respect to materials employed worldwide in nuclear power plants, EDF decided to create the MAI.
Tokyo Electric Power Company(TEPCO), is one of the three founding members of the MAI. TEPCO is a vertically integrated and investor-owned utility, servicing 28 million customers in the metropolitan Tokyo area of Japan. It produces 287 TWh of electricity from 62 GW of a mixed generation asset of nuclear (38%), LNG/LPG (38%), fossil (18%) and hydro (6%). Its nuclear fleet consists of 17 BWRs, which make TEPCO world’s largest BWR operator. TEPCO’s research and development (R&D) on material degradation started in 1970 when nuclear piping suffered from stress corrosion cracking. Since then, its R&D has been extended to material degradation and mitigation in severe service environments of nuclear, fosil and gas-turbine plants which now covers the less severe but difficult to control environmental degradation in transmission and distribution systems.
Kansai Electric Power Company(KEPCO), is a vertically integrated and investor-owned utility, servicing 13 million customers in the Kansai region of Japan. It produces 146 TWh of electricity from 34 GW of a mixed generation asset of nuclear (29%), LNG (20%), fossil (27%) and hydro (24%). Its nuclear fleet consists of 11 PWRs with about 50 % of its electricity production, which makes KEPCO the largest PWR operator in Japan. KEPCO has a 40 year experience of PWR operation since Mihama Unit 1, the first Japanese PWR, started its commercial operation in 1970. KEPCO’s research and development (R&D) on material degradation started in 1970 when steam generators tubes suffered from stress corrosion cracking. Since then, its R&D has been extended to material degradation and mitigation in severe service environments. It should be noted that the Institute of Nuclear Safety System, a 100 % subsidiary of KEPCO, is performing research works on material aging and other technical and social areas to enhance the safety of KEPCO NPPs and also to establish harmonious relationship between nuclear power and the society.
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) is one of the three founding members of the MAI. The EPRI leads research, development and demonstration of technical and operational solutions in electricity generation, delivery and use. The focus and application of EPRI’s research and activities span virtually every aspect of the power industry, including reliability, safety, the environment, and energy efficiency. As an independent, nonprofit center for public-interest energy and environmental research, EPRI’s work is supported both by its members, which represent more than 90 percent of the electricity generated in the United States, and by growing international participation, representing more than 15% of EPRI’s program support. By teaming with organizations such as EDF and TEPCO, EPRI works with recognized experts in materials science and technology, ensuring that research and development efforts focus on critical issues with widespread industry impact.
