small modular reactor (SMR)

nuclear energy

The chief advantage of SMRs, other than cost reduction over large, 1000-1600 MWe nuclear plants, is that they can be located practically anywhere and to supply steam for process use to facilities already in existence.[read more]

Small modular nuclear reactor

The US Department of Energy has a $452 million program to share development and licensing costs for selected small modular reactor designs. The DOE’s goal is to have an operating SMR by 2022.[read more]

small modular reactor

In contrast to large nuclear reactors, which have enormous components that are shipped to and assembled at the site where they will operate, SMRs will be assembled in a factory.[read more]

Innovative international collaborations and strategic government support, especially from countries with advanced technologies such as the United States, will be critical in bringing next generation nuclear designs to market and deploying them at scale. Developing countries like China, which announced last month that it would move ahead...[read more]

Fast reactor designs face export controls and the need to develop new fuel types which may slow time to marketThis article is based on a presentation given by Andrea Jennetta, Publisher, Fuel Cycle Week, at a conference held in July in Washington, DC, on commercializing small modular reactors. Research for and preparation of the slides...[read more]

Photo credit: Gregor WolfGlobal production of nuclear energy is expected to grow significantly in future years, despite setbacks in Japan and Germany, as China and the United States eyes next-generation reactors. Worldwide nuclear electricity generating capacity is expected to increase between 44 percent and 99 percent by 2035, the...[read more]

Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-Calif) wiped out in his remarks about the future of nuclear energy in his home state Rep. Dana Rohrbacher (R-Calif) is an avid surferThe perils of an incomplete technical briefing for an elected official were starkly apparent this week in California where a Los Angeles Congressman mixed up passive safety in GEN...[read more]

First, they have to prove they can build one   This is my updated coverage from Fuel Cycle Week, V11:N460 for 02/16/12 published by International Nuclear Associates, Washington, DC. This is the second of two articles.  Bike Race Image: Library of Congress Developers of small modular reactors (SMRs) of both the light water and...[read more]

President Obama backed up his call to “double-down” on clean energy during the State of the Union address by proposing to boost key energy innovation investments in his FY2013 federal budget request. Compared to the FY2012 Omnibus Appropriations bill, the President’s FY2013 proposal would increase top-line investments in key DOE energy...[read more]

Before adjourning to watch yule logs and eat holiday hams, Congress actually managed to pass a 2012 budget bill. ITIF's Matthew Stepp provided us with an early analysis of the bill's impact on energy innovation funding. Funding for key Department of Energy (DOE) innovation offices are up by a modest 2.5 percent relative to the 2011...[read more]

If the Senate receives the Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 2010 with the same enthusiasm that the House did in passing it in early December,  H.R. 5866 would be an assertive step toward a more lively U.S. nuclear industry. Senate support would mean renewed U.S. interest in jumpstarting the long dormant...[read more]

It appears B&W is moving up the small modular reactor (SMR) ranks to be on of the first SMRs to realize a customer and construction. TVA continues to express interest in the mPower design and may want up to six of them by 2020. Good summary of the details at Cool Hand Luke.  TVA is committed by 2020 to generating at least...[read more]