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For the first time, U.S. officials have approved a small nuclear power plant design.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission [(NRC)] on Friday approved Portland-based NuScale Power's application for the small modular reactor that Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems plans to build at a U.S. Department of Energy site in eastern Idaho.
The small reactors can produce about 60 megawatts of energy, or enough to power more than 50,000 homes. The proposed project includes 12 small modular reactors. The first would be built in 2029, with the rest in 2030.
NuScale says the reactors have advanced safety features, including self-cooling and automatic shutdown.
"This is a significant milestone not only for NuScale, but also for the entire U.S. nuclear sector and the other advanced nuclear technologies that will follow," said NuScale Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Hopkins in a statement.
The cooperative pushing the effort will next need to submit an application to the NRC for a combined construction and operating license and expects this to be ready within two years.
Also at Ars Technica.
(Score: 2) by dak664 on Saturday September 05 2020, @11:33AM (1 child)
Probably less than 30% thermal efficiency without a cooling tower, so around 200MW thermal. That's not a bug, it's a feature: enough to heat 10,000 homes!
(Score: 2, Interesting) by fustakrakich on Saturday September 05 2020, @03:16PM
They should pipe that hot water underneath the streets and sidewalks to stay snow and ice free all year long. With nuclear, we can all live like kings, for mere pennies.
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..