Duke Energy report: Small modular reactors promising path for zero carbon power at Purdue University

In an interim report released by Duke Energy and Purdue University this week, the pair determined that small, advanced, modular nuclear reactors could allow the university to achieve its power needs, carbon-free.

That assessment came a year after a feasibility study into whether advanced nuclear technologies could power the university’s West Lafayette campus and provide excess energy to Indiana’s electric grid. Small reactors like those proposed here could generally produce up to 300 MW of clean energy – or more, in certain cases – tied to simpler designs than traditional power plants, meaning they are faster and more affordable to build. They’re also backed by enhanced safety features.

“To reach a clean, carbon-free future, we need to explore a broad range of technologies, including advanced nuclear,” Stan Pinegar, Duke Energy Indiana president, said. “We need to study this and other options further, and this report starts a conversation about how we might transition to carbon-free power that can operate on demand in concert with renewable energy, such as solar and wind.”

So far, no technology has been selected for the university. These reactors are but one option. Further, both partners agreed that further exploration would be needed to determine cost and economic potential, regulatory conditions, site evaluations and more, so this investigation was merely testing the waters.

“Our early findings show that advanced nuclear technology presents a potential path to zero emissions for our university, and we intend to continue our teamwork with Duke Energy in the next phase of the study,” Mung Chiang, Purdue University president, said. “The persistent collaboration among Duke Energy, Purdue University and world-renowned energy and policy experts demonstrates the critical importance of this exploration into advanced nuclear energy and what it could mean not only for our campus, but also the community, state and nation.”

Beyond energy itself, what it could mean is economic benefits: millions in taxes locally, temporary and full-time jobs, and attracting private companies to locate and expand in the region. However, modular reactors are, like all nuclear development, afflicted with a complex and lengthy federal licensing process, which could hinder things. Even so, the first small modular reactors are expected to be deployed in the U.S. this decade, and federal government funding is working to make that happen.

If Duke and Purdue went this route, they noted that they would need to advocate for federal and state policy and funding needs, including federally backed funding insurance, more nuclear engineering and science workforce development programs, a public-private advanced reactor development program, fuel availability program, tax credits and state support for initial planning and development activities.