Nuclear Regulatory Commission Greenlights the First US Small Nuclear Reactor Design

The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) recently certified the design of NuScale Power's small modular reactor (SMR). This marks the first SMR approved for operation in the United States and the seventh reactor design to receive such certification.

According to NRC's press release, the rule goes into effect on Feb. 21, providing the country with a novel clean power source to aid in reducing emissions nationwide.

SMR Power Station

The final rule will enable utilities to cite NuScale's SMR design when requesting a combined license to construct and operate a reactor.

NuScale's design features an advanced light-water SMR with power modules that can produce 50 megawatts of green electricity. The VOYGR SMR power station can hold up to 12 factory-built power modules, each around one-third the size of a large-scale reactor.

But more interestingly, each power module uses gravity and convection instead of relying on additional water, power, or even human assistance to cool the reactor passively.

In March 2018, the NRC approved NuScale's proposal for SMR design certification, and in August 2020, it released its final technical review.

On July 29, 2022, the NRC Commission ultimately decided to certify the design, making history as the first SMR to be approved for use in the US.

"The DOE has been an invaluable partner with a shared common goal - to establish an innovative and reliable carbon-free source of energy here in the US We look forward to continuing our partnership and working with the DOE to bring the UAMPS Carbon Free Power Project to completion," NuScale Power President and Chief Executive Officer John Hopkins said in a statement.

Currently, NuScale is looking for an upgrade allowing each module to produce up to 77 megawatts. The NRC is anticipated to review its application this 2023.

Carbon Free Power Project

Since 2014, the US Department of Energy has contributed more than $600 million to the design, licensing, and siting of the VOYGR SMR power station by NuScale.

Through the Carbon Free Power Project, DOE is currently collaborating with Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS) to test a six-module NuScale VOYGR facility at Idaho National Laboratory.

By 2029, the first module is anticipated to be operational, and the entire facility will be running the following year. UAMPS completed the proposed INL site's subsurface field investigation work, and the company anticipates submitting a joint license application to the NRC in the first quarter of 2024.

In addition to the Carbon Free Power Project, NuScale Power has signed. It is now implementing 19 domestic and international agreements to establish SMR facilities in 12 other nations, such as Jordan, Romania, Poland, and the Czech Republic.