UniStar

UniStar Nuclear Energy was a U.S.-focused nuclear-development company created by Constellation Energy and Areva to develop new commercial nuclear power facilities. The venture was formed in 2005 and was renamed UniStar Nuclear Energy in August 2007, when its ownership structure became a joint venture between Constellation Energy and Électricité de France (EDF). EDF acquired full ownership in 2010, making UniStar an EDF subsidiary. The company's principal undertaking was Calvert Cliffs Unit 3 in Maryland. The proposed reactor was intended to use Areva's U.S. Evolutionary Power Reactor, commonly referred to as the U.S. EPR, and the project served as a reference plant for that reactor design in the United States. UniStar submitted a Combined License application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which began regulatory review of the proposed facility. The project faced continuing delays because the U.S. EPR design had not obtained the necessary NRC design certification. Those regulatory and development obstacles prevented the project from advancing on the originally anticipated schedule. UniStar also worked on other prospective U.S. EPR projects. In 2008, it submitted a Combined License application for a proposed Nine Mile Point Unit 3 in Oswego, New York. The project was later terminated after UniStar was unable to secure the required land rights from Constellation Energy and other parties. UniStar also assisted PPL Corporation with development of the proposed Bell Bend Unit 1 project, another U.S. EPR-based initiative. The company reduced its workforce substantially in 2013. In February 2014, it vacated its Baltimore office and moved its remaining personnel to EDF North America's headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Available reference material continues to associate UniStar with pursuit of the Calvert Cliffs licensing process, although the current operational status of the organization and the ultimate disposition of that project require verification. UniStar is best understood not as a consumer brand, but as a specialized nuclear-energy development vehicle associated with EDF, Constellation Energy, and Areva's efforts to introduce a new large-reactor design to the U.S. market.

UniStar originated in 2005 as a nuclear-development venture established by Constellation Energy and Areva. Its purpose was to pursue new nuclear generating capacity in the United States and to provide a development structure for Areva's U.S. EPR reactor design. The venture was renamed UniStar Nuclear Energy in August 2007, when EDF joined Constellation Energy as a joint-venture partner. The company's central project became Calvert Cliffs Unit 3, a proposed new reactor at the Calvert Cliffs site in Maryland. UniStar positioned the project as the reference plant for the U.S. EPR and submitted a Combined License application to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The licensing process required both approval of the specific facility and regulatory acceptance of the underlying reactor design. Delays in obtaining NRC design certification for the U.S. EPR affected the project's progress. UniStar expanded its development activity beyond Maryland. In 2008, it submitted a Combined License application for a proposed Nine Mile Point Unit 3 in Oswego, New York. That initiative ultimately did not proceed because UniStar could not acquire the land rights needed for the project from Constellation Energy and other parties. The Nine Mile Point project was terminated in 2013. The company also assisted PPL Corporation with development of the proposed Bell Bend Unit 1 project, which was likewise based on the U.S. EPR design. These activities made UniStar part of a broader effort by EDF, Areva, and U.S. utility partners to develop a new generation of large reactors for the American market. EDF acquired 100 percent of UniStar Nuclear Energy in 2010. The organization subsequently experienced major staff reductions. In February 2014, UniStar vacated its Baltimore, Maryland, office and transferred its remaining staff to EDF North America's headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Reference material continued to describe UniStar as pursuing the Calvert Cliffs Unit 3 licensing process, while also noting that delays in U.S. EPR design approval had impeded the project. The available material does not establish the company's current legal, operational, or project status, so those matters remain subject to review.

• 2014

  Baltimore office closes

  [1]UniStaren.wikipedia.org

  After significant personnel reductions, remaining staff move from Baltimore to EDF North America's headquarters in Chevy Chase.

• 2013

  Nine Mile Point project ends

  [1]UniStaren.wikipedia.org

  The Nine Mile Point Unit 3 project is terminated after required land rights cannot be secured.

• 2010

  EDF takes full ownership

  [1]UniStaren.wikipedia.org

  EDF acquires 100 percent of UniStar Nuclear Energy.

• 2008

  Nine Mile Point Unit 3 application submitted

  [1]UniStaren.wikipedia.org

  UniStar submits a Combined License application for a proposed U.S. EPR reactor at Nine Mile Point in New York.

• 2007

  The venture becomes UniStar Nuclear Energy

  [1]UniStaren.wikipedia.org

  In August, the organization adopts the UniStar Nuclear Energy name and operates as a joint venture of Constellation Energy and EDF.

• 2005

  UniStar is established

  [1]UniStaren.wikipedia.org

  Constellation Energy and Areva create UniStar to develop new nuclear-energy facilities in the United States.

A specialized U.S. nuclear-energy development platform focused on licensing and advancing large commercial reactors based on Areva's U.S. EPR design.

• Nuclear power plant development project

  Calvert Cliffs Unit 3

  A proposed third reactor at the Calvert Cliffs site in Maryland and UniStar's principal development project. It was intended to use Areva's U.S. EPR design and function as the reference plant for that reactor in the United States. UniStar submitted a Combined License application to the NRC, but progress was delayed by the unresolved design-certification process for the U.S. EPR.

• Nuclear power plant development project · 2008

  Nine Mile Point Unit 3

  A proposed U.S. EPR reactor at the Nine Mile Point site in Oswego, New York. UniStar filed a Combined License application in 2008, but the project was later terminated after the company failed to obtain necessary land rights from Constellation Energy and other parties.

• Nuclear power plant development support

  Bell Bend Unit 1

  A proposed U.S. EPR-based nuclear unit whose development was supported by UniStar in cooperation with PPL Corporation. The available reference material identifies UniStar's assistance but does not provide a complete account of the project's later outcome.

• 2014

  Consolidate remaining operations at EDF North AmericaStrategy

  Background

  UniStar had undergone substantial staff reductions during the preceding year.

  Action taken

  The company vacated its Baltimore office and moved remaining personnel to EDF North America's headquarters in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

  Aftermath

  The relocation reflected a significantly reduced organizational footprint while work associated with Calvert Cliffs continued to be referenced.

  Source

• 2013

  Terminate Nine Mile Point Unit 3 developmentStrategy

  Background

  The proposed New York reactor required land rights that UniStar could not obtain from Constellation Energy and other parties.

  Action taken

  UniStar ended the Nine Mile Point Unit 3 project.

  Aftermath

  The Calvert Cliffs Unit 3 project remained the company's principal identified development effort.

  Source

• 2010

  EDF acquires UniStar outrightM&A

  Background

  UniStar was operating as a joint venture between Constellation Energy and EDF.

  Action taken

  EDF acquired the remaining ownership interests and became the sole owner of UniStar Nuclear Energy.

  Aftermath

  UniStar continued as an EDF-owned U.S. nuclear-development subsidiary.

  Source

• 2007

  Reorganize the venture under the UniStar Nuclear Energy nameStrategy

  Background

  Constellation Energy and EDF sought to structure their U.S. nuclear-development activities as a joint venture focused on new reactor projects.

  Action taken

  The organization changed its name from UniStar Nuclear to UniStar Nuclear Energy and operated as a Constellation Energy–EDF joint venture.

  Aftermath

  The venture continued pursuing U.S. EPR projects, including Calvert Cliffs Unit 3 and Nine Mile Point Unit 3.

  Source

1. 1UniStaren.wikipedia.org