Alternative emergency control centre at Spanish NPPs

Spain

Following the accident occurred at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, the Western European Nuclear Regulators Association (WENRA) defined, among others, the stress tests to be carried out on European NPPs. As a result, the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) required each plant to build a centre to support emergency management during critical situations. This centre would be activated when, according to the director of the plant, any of the facilities that usually supports the control room (namely the Technical Support Centre (CAT) and the Centre for Operational support (CAO)) needs to be abandoned. The new alternative emergency control centre (AECC), called CAGE in Spanish, should be implemented in each of the locations of the Spanish NPPs.

In early 2012, AELEC (Spanish Electricity Industry Association) commissioned IDOM to design an alternativeemergency control centre building. This conceptual design was developed in accordance with the safety requirements set by the CSN.

Based on the experience of other emergency centers constructions, as well as the accumulated knowledge from Spanish NPPs activities, IDOM produced a basic design that responds to the needs of each nuclear facility. At the same time, the design aimed to reduce the implementation costs.

Next, in the project’s second phase, IDOM participated in the development of licenses for different nuclear facilities. Later, it was awarded the basic and detailed engineering, and construction works management of the AECC of Ascó, Vandellós II and Almaraz NPPs.

The AECC building provides support to the control room and plant during emergency conditions, housing in a confined environment 120 people at Ascó and 70 at Vandellós II. Moreover, these buildings are self-sufficient for 72 hours and meet all CSN safety standards.

Finally, key design considerations included radiological protection, seismic resistance, structural integrity, communication systems, habitability, power supply, fire protection, and regulatory compliance. Finally, a robust quality assurance system was integrated to ensure long-term reliability and safety.

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