The U.S. nuclear power regulator has certified the design for the NuScale Power Corp's (SMR.N) small modular reactor, the first such approval in the country for the next generation technology.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval, published in the Federal Register late on Thursday, clears a hurdle for NuScale. The company plans to build a demonstration small modular reactor (SMR) power plant at the Idaho National Laboratory. NuScale says the six-reactor, 462 megawatt Carbon Free Power Project will be fully running in 2030.
There are significant questions about rising costs of the demonstration plant, expected to provide electricity to the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS). NuScale said this month the target price for power from the plant is $89 per megawatt hour, up 53% from the previous estimate of $58 per MWh.
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www.sciencefriday.com
(segment transcript at link)
Per the SciFri link:
In terms of the waste that’s produced, we’re talking about very small quantities of used fuel. For our design, for example– the one that we’re building in Idaho– that’s a six-module plant. For 60 years of operation with that plant, all the used fuel that’s generated could be stored on 0.8 acres of land. So it’s a very small amount of waste that’s being generated from these plants. And that’s over a very long period of time. And the storage is on a very small footprint.
EDIT: FTR - a six module plant would generate about 462 MW, and the 0.8 acre storage referred to 6 decades of operation. Each module generates 77 MW. They also go into detail on how the individual modules shut off safely w/o any power or cooling, and excess heat generated when power is not needed on the grid could be used for water desalination or hydrogen production/biofuel generation.
They mention that lots of energy companies with older coal/natural gas fired plants due for retirement are looking closely at these modules as an option to supplement renewables generation and close the production-gaps when the wind doesn't blow or at night.
The Sci-Fri podcast on this is a pretty good listen.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval, published in the Federal Register late on Thursday, clears a hurdle for NuScale. The company plans to build a demonstration small modular reactor (SMR) power plant at the Idaho National Laboratory. NuScale says the six-reactor, 462 megawatt Carbon Free Power Project will be fully running in 2030.
There are significant questions about rising costs of the demonstration plant, expected to provide electricity to the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS). NuScale said this month the target price for power from the plant is $89 per megawatt hour, up 53% from the previous estimate of $58 per MWh.
U.S. approves design for NuScale small modular nuclear reactor
The U.S. nuclear power regulator has certified the design for the NuScale Power Corp's small modular reactor, the first such approval in the country for the next generation technology.
NRC Certifies First U.S. Small Modular Reactor Design
NuScale power module becomes the first SMR design certified by the NRC.
The Next Big Thing In Nuclear? Small Reactors
The U.S. just approved its first small modular nuclear power plant design. What does it mean for the future of nuclear power?
www.sciencefriday.com
Per the SciFri link:
In terms of the waste that’s produced, we’re talking about very small quantities of used fuel. For our design, for example– the one that we’re building in Idaho– that’s a six-module plant. For 60 years of operation with that plant, all the used fuel that’s generated could be stored on 0.8 acres of land. So it’s a very small amount of waste that’s being generated from these plants. And that’s over a very long period of time. And the storage is on a very small footprint.
EDIT: FTR - a six module plant would generate about 462 MW, and the 0.8 acre storage referred to 6 decades of operation. Each module generates 77 MW. They also go into detail on how the individual modules shut off safely w/o any power or cooling, and excess heat generated when power is not needed on the grid could be used for water desalination or hydrogen production/biofuel generation.
They mention that lots of energy companies with older coal/natural gas fired plants due for retirement are looking closely at these modules as an option to supplement renewables generation and close the production-gaps when the wind doesn't blow or at night.
The Sci-Fri podcast on this is a pretty good listen.
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