Industry consortium proposes strategies for small nuclear reactor deployment

SMR Start, a consortium made up of develops and potential customers of small modular reactors (SMRs), recently published a policy statement identifying public-private partnership proposals for progressing the deployment and commercialization of SMRs.

Private companies have invested over $1 billion into the development of SMRs. In its policy statement, SMR Start requested that Congress allocate funds in the 2018 fiscal year to design and licensing, commercial deployment, technology development, as well as manufacturing and supply chain of SMR technology.

SMRs, nuclear reactors that generate less than 300 megawatts of electricity, are expected to become available in the 2020s.

Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) collaborates with SMR Start, but is not a member of the consortium. It cited several potential advantages associated with small nuclear reactors, including quicker and less costly construction, simpler and safer designs and the capability to adjust capacity additions and operations based on demand.

“SMRs can be the best option in some markets and countries not suited to large reactors while providing the same reliable, carbon-free electricity,” NEI Vice President Dan Lipman said.

SMR Start members include Areva Inc., Bechtel Corp., BWX Technologies Inc., Dominion Energy Inc., Duke Energy Corp., Energy Northwest, Fluor Corp., Holtec International, NuScale Power, Ontario Power Generation Inc., PSEG Nuclear, Southern Nuclear, TVA and UAMPS.

The consortium was established in January 2016.