{"id":245401,"date":"2023-02-24T20:03:56","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T19:03:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=245401"},"modified":"2023-02-24T20:04:03","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T19:04:03","slug":"usa-leads-charge-on-small-modular-reactors-with-nuscale-design-ready-for-construction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=245401","title":{"rendered":"USA Leads Charge On Small Modular Reactors With NuScale Design Ready For Construction"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From STOP THESE THINGS<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

As the energy source of the future, safe, reliable and affordable nuclear power hardly needs an introduction. Power-starved Germans have re-embraced it; the French have been powered by it for nearly 60 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altogether, there are 30 countries where you\u2019ll find nearly 450 nuclear reactors currently operating<\/a> \u2013 as well as the Germans and French \u2013 Americans, Canadians, Japanese and Chinese are well aware of the benefits of nuclear power. Another 15 countries are currently building 60 reactors among them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nuclear power output accounts for over 11% of global electricity production. But all that power is generated at scale. Whereas, what promises to change the way that nuclear energy is produced and distributed is much smaller, and the Americans are leading the charge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jeremey Beaman reports on how NuScale Power has won not only the confidence of US regulators, but a contract to build America\u2019s first 50MW, SMR power plant at DOE\u2019s Idaho National Laboratory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First Small Modular Reactor Gets Certification From Nuclear Regulatory Commission<\/strong>
Washington Examiner
Jeremy Beaman
20 January 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced the first-ever certification Friday of a small modular reactor design, a big step in the process of developing a new generation of new and more flexible nuclear reactors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NRC approved the reactor design from NuScale Power, making it the first SMR design to be certified by the regulator and only the seventh reactor design cleared for use in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSMRs are no longer an abstract concept,\u201d said Kathryn Huff, assistant secretary for nuclear energy at the Department of Energy. \u201cThey are real, and they are ready for deployment thanks to the hard work of NuScale, the university community, our national labs, industry partners, and the NRC.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NuScale is one among many nuclear energy companies working to re-imagine the legacy nuclear reactor technologies developed in the 20th century by scaling them down, with one leading motivation being to make the construction of nuclear power plants more cost-effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company, which was awarded a contract to build an SMR power plant on-site at DOE\u2019s Idaho National Laboratory, celebrated certification of the design Friday of its advanced light-water reactor. The reactor uses power modules that each can generate 50 megawatts of electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By comparison, the two new reactors at Plant Vogtle in Georgia are each rated at 1,250 megawatts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biden administration has prioritized the advancement of new nuclear technologies, as well as the preservation of existing and operating power plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats\u2019 new green energy and healthcare spending law, offers a mix of tax incentives to nuclear power generators and funding to produce the uranium necessary to fuel advanced reactors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some in the nuclear sector, as well as members of Congress in both parties, have called for the NRC to be reformed due to the delays in certifying new reactor designs and licensing new construction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agency began operations in 1975 with a single mandate to ensure public safety. Some reform proponents say Congress needs to give it another mandate to enable commerce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before Friday, the commission\u2019s last new reactor design to be certified was in September 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NRC has not licensed a new nuclear installation from start to finish in its history. When Georgia\u2019s Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 come online, they will be the first.
Washington Examiner<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission announced\u00a0the first-ever certification Friday of a small modular reactor design, a big step in the process of developing a new generation of new and more flexible nuclear reactors.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":121246920,"featured_media":245413,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_crdt_document":"","advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-245401","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"hentry","7":"category-uncategorized","9":"fallback-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-752.png?fit=1032%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/paxLW1-11Q5","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":243024,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=243024","url_meta":{"origin":245401,"position":0},"title":"U.S. approves first small modular nuclear reactor","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"03\/02\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"The reactors are rated to produce up to 300 megawatts of 24\/7, clean, reliable electricity.\u00a0","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-110.png?fit=1200%2C918&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-110.png?fit=1200%2C918&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-110.png?fit=1200%2C918&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-110.png?fit=1200%2C918&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-110.png?fit=1200%2C918&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":242611,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=242611","url_meta":{"origin":245401,"position":1},"title":"SMR Gold Rush: Smart Money Backing Small Modular Nuclear Reactors","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/02\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Europe\u2019s energy crisis is all down to its delusional reliance upon intermittent wind and solar, which is why the smart money is backing nuclear power, at any scale, including Small Modular Reactors.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image-14.png?fit=1200%2C810&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":295143,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=295143","url_meta":{"origin":245401,"position":2},"title":"Nuclear revival needs a new regulatory framework","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"15\/01\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Bad as the regulatory time frame is for large nuclear facilities, it is even worse (though technically the same) for companies desiring to bring new-design small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro SMRs to market.","rel":"","context":"In \"France\"","block_context":{"text":"France","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=france"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0small-modular-reactors-foto-IAEA-1.png?fit=1140%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0small-modular-reactors-foto-IAEA-1.png?fit=1140%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0small-modular-reactors-foto-IAEA-1.png?fit=1140%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0small-modular-reactors-foto-IAEA-1.png?fit=1140%2C640&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/0small-modular-reactors-foto-IAEA-1.png?fit=1140%2C640&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":290990,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=290990","url_meta":{"origin":245401,"position":3},"title":"More SMR Woes: Oklo-Air Force Cancellation","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"12\/12\/2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Another small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) has seen a major contract in jeopardy, casting more doubt on the prospects for the highly-touted future of small modular nuclear reactors. The online news service\u00a0Alaska Beacon reports\u00a0that the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has\u00a0revoked an August Air Force preliminary decision\u00a0to install an experimental Oklo\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Eielson Air Force\"","block_context":{"text":"Eielson Air Force","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=eielson-air-force"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00smr.jpg?fit=1200%2C906&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00smr.jpg?fit=1200%2C906&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00smr.jpg?fit=1200%2C906&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00smr.jpg?fit=1200%2C906&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/00smr.jpg?fit=1200%2C906&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":299266,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=299266","url_meta":{"origin":245401,"position":4},"title":"Six SMR power plants\u00a0approved in Poland","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"01\/02\/2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Poland's Ministry of Climate and Environment has issued decisions-in-principle for the construction of power plants based on GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) at six locations. A total of 24 BWRX-300 reactors are planned at the sites.","rel":"","context":"In \"GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300\"","block_context":{"text":"GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=ge-hitachi-nuclear-energys-bwrx-300"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0-smr.jpeg?fit=1024%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0-smr.jpeg?fit=1024%2C640&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0-smr.jpeg?fit=1024%2C640&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/0-smr.jpeg?fit=1024%2C640&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":419783,"url":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=419783","url_meta":{"origin":245401,"position":5},"title":"Seizing the moment for U.S. nuclear energy dominance","author":"uwe.roland.gross","date":"04\/01\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Nuclear power delivers clean, reliable baseload energy essential for economic growth, national security, and competing in AI. U.S. companies lead in advanced reactor designs (e.g., small modular reactors or SMRs), but regulatory hurdles, supply chain weaknesses, and foreign competition (from Russia and China) threaten leadership.","rel":"","context":"In \"electric grid\"","block_context":{"text":"electric grid","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?tag=electric-grid"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQMel9d7OE0Bo7XVbUuNIbGihPE0fNDHEyMosbbGCeV1JbptgCNoHXNFKWN-aoKEEuCaAETmVGkfvosRmoySCKMxsi0F6F7U0y4ViqphSD528TQR9kniRHHzef1mWw.jpeg?fit=1200%2C673&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQMel9d7OE0Bo7XVbUuNIbGihPE0fNDHEyMosbbGCeV1JbptgCNoHXNFKWN-aoKEEuCaAETmVGkfvosRmoySCKMxsi0F6F7U0y4ViqphSD528TQR9kniRHHzef1mWw.jpeg?fit=1200%2C673&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQMel9d7OE0Bo7XVbUuNIbGihPE0fNDHEyMosbbGCeV1JbptgCNoHXNFKWN-aoKEEuCaAETmVGkfvosRmoySCKMxsi0F6F7U0y4ViqphSD528TQR9kniRHHzef1mWw.jpeg?fit=1200%2C673&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQMel9d7OE0Bo7XVbUuNIbGihPE0fNDHEyMosbbGCeV1JbptgCNoHXNFKWN-aoKEEuCaAETmVGkfvosRmoySCKMxsi0F6F7U0y4ViqphSD528TQR9kniRHHzef1mWw.jpeg?fit=1200%2C673&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/climatescience.press\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AQMel9d7OE0Bo7XVbUuNIbGihPE0fNDHEyMosbbGCeV1JbptgCNoHXNFKWN-aoKEEuCaAETmVGkfvosRmoySCKMxsi0F6F7U0y4ViqphSD528TQR9kniRHHzef1mWw.jpeg?fit=1200%2C673&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/121246920"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=245401"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":245415,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/245401\/revisions\/245415"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/245413"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=245401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=245401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=245401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}