Small modular reactor [credit: ANS Nuclear Cafe]
The battle to make nuclear power more practical and affordable steps up a gear.
NuScale Power’s small modular reactor (SMR) design has cleared the latest stage of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)’s review process, reports New Civil Engineer.
The reactor is the world’s first SMR to undergo design certification review by the NRC, after passing phase 4 of the review process. It is on track for approval by September 2020.
SMR supporters see the reactors as a safer, more affordable nuclear power option.
Phase 4 of the review involves completion of the advanced safety evaluation report (SER) with no open items. It signifies near-completion of the technical review.
NuScale chairman and chief executive John Hopkins said: “We appreciate the tremendous effort the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has dedicated to its thorough and rigorous review of our groundbreaking technology thus far. We are thrilled to be entering into the final stages of the NRC’s review process and are looking forward to delivering America’s first small modular nuclear reactor.”
Phase 5 involves a review by the NRC’s Advisory Committee on Reactor Safeguards (ACRS), while Phase 6 involves preparation of the final SER.
NuScale vice president of regulatory affairs Tom Bergman said the company appreciates “the NRC’s efforts to streamline Phase 5″.
He added: “We expect that Phase 5 will be completed on or ahead of the original schedule in June 2020.”
The Utah Associated Municipal Power System is planning a 12-module SMR plant in Idaho, based on the NRC’s certified design and scheduled for operation by the mid-2020s.
Full report here.
via Tallbloke’s Talkshop
December 20, 2019 at 03:17AM
Iowa Climate Science Education 