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Global Nuclear Fuel Launches Next Generation GNF4 Fuel
The GNF4 11x11 BWR fuel features Ziron cladding for corrosion resistance and aluminosilicate doped pellets for reliability, advancing the performance of previous GNF fuel generations.
www.gevernova.com
Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF, a GE Vernova-led alliance with Hitachi, Ltd.) has announced the introduction of GNF4, a next generation nuclear fuel product built on a 60-year legacy of boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel design innovation and performance. The 11x11 GNF4 product builds upon the operating history of GNF2 and GNF3 and features two advanced components that are licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission: Ziron cladding and aluminosilicate doped uranium dioxide pellets.
Ziron cladding was developed to better resist corrosion, ensuring that fuel remains safe and reliable and is an enhancement to the Zircaloy 2 cladding that has been utilized in more than 175,000 GNF fuel assemblies worldwide. Aluminosilicate doped uranium dioxide pellets add an extra layer of reliability. GNF4 will also utilize GNF’s proprietary NSF channel material and Defender+ debris filter.
“GNF4 is engineered to provide plant operators with lower fuel costs per megawatt hour through increased performance and reliability,” said Craig Ranson, Installed Base CEO, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. “Our engineering and supply chain teams are leveraging their BWR expertise to introduce this next generation fuel.”
GNF4 is being fabricated at GNF’s manufacturing facility in Wilmington, NC. The first lead use assemblies of GNF4 are contracted for deployment in 2026 and full reload quantities are expected to be available in 2030. GNF provides a wide range of services to support nuclear power plants including expert core and fuel cycle engineering, reload licensing and core management services, predictive reports and fuel reliability risk assessments, cyber-secure core monitoring and fleet analytics, fuel examination services and consulting on reactor operations and long-term fuel storage.
www.gevernova.com
Ziron cladding was developed to better resist corrosion, ensuring that fuel remains safe and reliable and is an enhancement to the Zircaloy 2 cladding that has been utilized in more than 175,000 GNF fuel assemblies worldwide. Aluminosilicate doped uranium dioxide pellets add an extra layer of reliability. GNF4 will also utilize GNF’s proprietary NSF channel material and Defender+ debris filter.
“GNF4 is engineered to provide plant operators with lower fuel costs per megawatt hour through increased performance and reliability,” said Craig Ranson, Installed Base CEO, GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy. “Our engineering and supply chain teams are leveraging their BWR expertise to introduce this next generation fuel.”
GNF4 is being fabricated at GNF’s manufacturing facility in Wilmington, NC. The first lead use assemblies of GNF4 are contracted for deployment in 2026 and full reload quantities are expected to be available in 2030. GNF provides a wide range of services to support nuclear power plants including expert core and fuel cycle engineering, reload licensing and core management services, predictive reports and fuel reliability risk assessments, cyber-secure core monitoring and fleet analytics, fuel examination services and consulting on reactor operations and long-term fuel storage.
www.gevernova.com
