The Department of Energy announced agreements Friday that could allow three companies to site prototype small modular reactors at the Savannah River National Laboratory in South Carolina.
The agreements are tentative steps to allow Hyperion Power Generation, Holtec International and NuScale Power to explore land use and site services agreements with SRS. The memoranda of agreement allow the firms access to SRS information, facilities and technical expertise in an effort to help them develop their respective SMR designs.
“The Obama administration continues to believe that low-carbon nuclear energy has an important role to play in America’s energy future,” Energy Secretary Stephen Chu said in a release. “We are committed to restarting the nation’s nuclear industry and advancing the next generation of these technologies, helping to create new jobs and export opportunities for American workers and businesses.”
The agreements are separate from federal funding the energy department has proposed for SMR research. In January, DOE began taking comments on a proposed five-year, $452 million grant program for SMR research. The final Funding Opportunity Announcement is expected this spring, with an industry day/pre-bidders’ conference scheduled tentatively for April. Any long-term projects would be dependent on year-to-year funding from Congress and the White House. Although DOE remains committed to SMRs, proposing $65 million to support their development in the fiscal year 2013 budget.