Approval Granted for Initial Design of Compact Nuclear Power Plant in U.S.
The United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has given the green light to NuScale Power, an Oregon-based reactor company, for the development of the first small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) in the country. This significant step forward in SMR development was announced in the Federal Register on August 28, 2020.
The approved design, known as the NuScale Power Module (NPM), is designed for a power output of approximately 50 MWe and can be combined in groups of up to twelve modules to achieve a total capacity of 600 MWe. The first commercial application of such a system is planned for the Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) Carbon Free Power Project, which is expected to commence operations by 2029.
This approval marks a significant milestone in the development of SMRs, known for their flexibility and scalability. They offer the potential for efficient and cost-effective energy production, particularly in regions requiring small, flexible energy sources.
Nuclear energy can provide valuable baseload power for when renewable energy is offline. The NuScale design produces a reactor about one-third the size of a usual reactor, with each module able to produce around 50 megawatts of power. This makes them less expensive and time-consuming to construct, and their small size allows them to take up less space compared to traditional reactors.
U.S. Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy Kathryn Huff stated that small modular reactors are no longer an abstract concept, but are ready for deployment. The introduction of a small modular reactor design may not resolve all the deep issues around nuclear technology, but it's a compelling sign of what could be on the horizon.
Nuclear energy is a carbon-free electricity source. However, it's important to note that the NuScale model, like all nuclear reactors, still produces nuclear waste, which some environmentalists consider a concern. Developing nuclear energy is one of the best strategies to get the world off its fossil fuel addiction, according to some perspectives.
Currently, NuScale is working on a six-module demonstration plant in Idaho, scheduled to be fully operational by 2030. Renewables alone may not be enough to meet the enormous energy demands of a truly carbon-free society, according to some arguments. The pace of nuclear development is a challenge for some climate advocates, who argue that the industry is too slow to respond to the immediate need to decarbonize.
Despite these challenges, the U.S. is experiencing a renaissance in the popularity of small modular nuclear reactors. Kathryn Huff also stated that this is innovation at its finest and that the U.S. is just getting started with small modular nuclear reactors. This approval is a significant step towards a more sustainable energy future.
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