A new reactor design from GE-Hitachi just cleared two
crucial licensing hurdles, with a final design certification from the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission possible as early as this fall.
GEH announced Wednesday that its Economic Simplified Boiling
Water Reactor received a positive final safety evaluation report and final
design approval from the NRC. That’s also good news for Detroit Edison, which
has applied for a license to install an ESBWR at its Enrico Fermi plant in
Michigan. Further, the regulatory steps allow regulators in several other
countries to approve the design.
“The ESBWR is one final step away from becoming a reality,”
said GEH CEO Caroline Reda. “The FSER and FDA mark a crucial step forward for
the ESBWR’s global commercial prospects. We appreciate the diligence of the NRC
during the review process, which enables the ESBWR to remain on track to
receive the NRC’s final design certification by this fall.”
The new reactor features circulation-pump-free passive
safety systems, lower construction costs, a referenced construction schedule of
42 months and a thermal output estimated at 4,500 megawatts.