GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Deploys Newly Approved Steam Dryer Evaluation Process

WILMINGTON, N.C.—November 10, 2010—GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) today announced U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approval of a steam dryer methodology for GEH’s next-generation ESBWR (Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor) design. This methodology provides a means to more accurately evaluate the condition of steam dryers in existing and future boiling water reactor (BWR) nuclear power stations.

Located above the core within a reactor pressure vessel, the steam dryer is a critical component that removes excess moisture from steam created in the plant’s reactor before it is delivered into the turbine-generator units to produce low-carbon, baseload electricity.

Utilities must reference a steam dryer analysis when applying to the NRC for either a license amendment for an existing BWR unit – such as for a proposed plant uprate – or a license to build a new reactor based on GEH’s ESBWR design. GEH developed its analysis methodology to predict how steam dryers respond under current or future production requirements. The NRC approval is ESBWR specific; however, the methodology can be used for existing plants on a plant specific application basis.

“As some US utilities are preparing to possibly build new plants that offer greater reliability and efficiency, other operators are instead seeking NRC approval to extend the licenses of their existing reactors and uprate their production levels,” said Kevin Lagasse, senior vice president of nuclear services for GEH. “Our newly approved methodology is important to both trends by enabling a more accurate evaluation of a steam dryer’s capabilities, further enhancing the NRC’s confidence in an applicant’s project.”

In the case of a proposed uprate, based on analysis results, a modified or new dryer may be required to achieve uprate conditions. GEH’s skilled teams at its operations in Wilmington, N.C. and Canonsburg, Pa. offer industry-leading expertise in the design, manufacture, implementation and instrumentation of modified and new BWR steam dryers.

Entergy Nuclear is the first U.S. utility to utilize the entire breadth of GEH’s steam dryer evaluation methodology including “plant based load evaluation” (PBLE) as part of the utility’s proposed extended power uprate of the Grand Gulf BWR station in Port Gibson, Miss. Entergy is the nation’s second largest nuclear plant operator.

In addition to the Grand Gulf application, this methodology has been benchmarked against instrumented dryer data from Exelon’s Quad Cities Generating Station Unit 2 reactor in Illinois and the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station’s Unit 1 reactor in Pennsylvania, operated by PPL Susquehanna. Additional projects are underway in Spain, Japan, and the United States.

About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy

Based in Wilmington, N.C., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advancedreactors and nuclear services. Established in June 2007, GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GEand Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic visionto create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and serviceopportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required toeffectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety.

For more information, contact:

Michael Tetuan
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
+1 910 819 7055

michael.tetuan@ge.com

Tom Murnane or Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
+1 518 786 6488

tom.murnane@mastopr.com

howard.masto@ge.com