Christopher Groff

Okatie, SC, USA

Mr. Christopher Groff has over 45 years of nuclear engineering experience, including responsibilities for nuclear fuel supply procurement and fuel fabrication, nuclear power plant operations surveillance and maintenance programs, and ongoing support for dry cask storage facility operations. His experience includes both domestic and international nuclear utility fuel procurement policies and programs.

Prior to becoming an independent consultant, Mr. Groff worked for 30 years at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) company supporting Diablo Canyon Power Plant, most recently as the Senior Manager of Nuclear Fuel Procurement and dry cask storage facility programs. While at PG&E, Mr. Groff served in the role of President of FUELCO LLC, a three-utility cooperative designed to establish and implement nuclear fuel procurement strategy and provide direct coordination of fuel cycle services for three Midwest utilities. He was also the Chairman of the Westinghouse Fuel User Group, maintaining coordination of utility experiences and providing feedback to the fuel fabricator. He held numerous roles in the PG&E operational staff including Manager of Plant Engineering, Director of Computer Services, and Assistant to the Plant Engineering Vice President. As Senior Manager of the Dry Cask Storage facility, he provided leadership for several used fuel loading campaigns, including submitting licensing documentation and purchasing dry casks.

Following his retirement from PG&E, Mr. Groff held the position of Director of Fuel Procurement at Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) supporting the development of the nuclear fuel procurement program and its implementation. Additionally, he was responsible for the oversight of nuclear fuel fabrication and transport of the fuel assemblies to the plant site. During this period, Mr. Groff was responsible for the renegotiation of fuel supply and fuel fabrication contracts.

Mr. Groff earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from Ohio State University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in the state of California.

Areas of Expertise

• Compatibility and mixed core evaluations
• Contract development
• Contract portfolio analysis
• Core components design, materials, and performance
• Cycle economics and fuel costs
• Fuel cycle design
• Fuel department staffing and organization assessments
• Fuel Design & Manufacture
• Fuel design change reviews
• Fuel fabrication procurement
• Fuel handling, core loading, and operational support
• Fuel Management
• Fuel manufacturing technical oversight
• Fuel materials and irradiation effects
• Fuel performance and reliability
• Government Policy evaluation and impacts
• Manufacturing quality surveillance (QS)
• New fuel design reviews / LTA's / Accident Tolerant Fuel
• Nuclear facility site feasibility studies
• Nuclear Nonproliferation, Safeguards & Security support
• Obligations reporting
• Operation & Performance
• Purchasing/marketing strategies
• QA program audits
• QA program implementing procedures
• Regulatory assistance and support
• RFP and bid evaluations
• RFP and bid evaluations
• Safety analyses
• Security of supply studies
• Spent fuel examinations
• Spent fuel storage options and economics