Westinghouse and EnergyLab Collaborate on Nuclear Conference in Italy

PITTSBURGH, May 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Westinghouse Electric Company LLC co-hosted a conference on the current and future potential of nuclear energy in Italy under the ongoing co-operation with the Italian energy foundation EnergyLab. Westinghouse sponsored the event, titled "AP1000™ is on schedule for 2013," which was held at the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.

The event highlighted the successes of current AP1000 projects, principally that all four AP1000 plants are on schedule in China with the first commercial operation date due in 2013. The event also discussed Westinghouse's 10 AP1000 plants under contract with Chinese and US customers and how Italian industry is playing a large role in the success of current AP1000 projects. Presentations were made by representatives of major Italian Industries describing their participation with Westinghouse on current AP1000 projects.

Gary Shuttleworth, Director of International Business Development, says that Westinghouse continues it commitment in support of the Italian nuclear program.  "Westinghouse welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with EnergyLab in promoting nuclear energy in Italy.  We firmly believe that the Westinghouse AP1000™ plant is the solution for providing the people of Italy with safe, secure and economically responsible energy, and we look forward to taking part in the overall discussion relative to Italy's energy needs."  

The AP1000 plant design is certified by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the only Generation III+ reactor to receive such certification.  Additionally, the European Utility Requirements (EUR) organization certified that the AP1000 plant is compliant with European Utility Requirements, confirming that it can be successfully deployed in Europe.

The Westinghouse AP1000 plant offers additional benefits through its simplified modular construction methods and greater ability to involve Italian industry through localization of manufacturing and construction, known as the Buy Where We Build™ program.  

In addition to four AP1000 plants that the Westinghouse/Shaw Consortium is providing in China, Westinghouse and its AP1000 plant have been identified as the supplier and technology of choice for no less than 14 plants that have been announced in the United States, including six for which engineering, procurement and construction contracts have been signed. Additionally, Westinghouse and China are currently in discussion on plans for additional AP1000 plants to be sited inland of China's coastal areas.

Westinghouse believes the AP1000 design is ideally suited for the worldwide nuclear power marketplace. The AP1000 nuclear power plant is:

• Based on standard Westinghouse pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology that has achieved more than 2,500 reactor years of highly successful operation
• An 1100MWe design that is ideal for providing baseload generating capacity and fits within the constraints of the Italian electrical grid
• Modular in design, promoting ready standardization and high construction quality
• Economical to construct and maintain (less concrete and steel and fewer components and systems mean there is less to install, inspect and maintain)
• Designed to promote ease of operation (features most advanced instrumentation and control systems (I&C) in the industry)

For more information about the Westinghouse AP1000 plant, visit its Web site at www.ap1000.westinghousenuclear.com.

EnergyLab, founded in 2007, is a cross-organizational collaboration of government and academic institutions, including the Lombardia regional government, AEM Foundation and the Edison Foundation, the municipality of Milan, the University of Milan, the University of Milan-Bicocca, the Catholic University, Milan Polytechnic, Bocconi University and the research center ERSE.

Westinghouse Electric Company, a group company of Toshiba Corporation (TKY: 6502), is the world's pioneering nuclear energy company and is a leading supplier of nuclear plant products and technologies to utilities throughout the world.  Westinghouse supplied the world's first PWR in 1957 in Shippingport, Pa.  Today, Westinghouse technology is the basis for approximately one-half of the world's operating nuclear plants, including 60 percent of those in the United States.

SOURCE Westinghouse Electric Company LLC